KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan University women's basketball team had a big second half performance to earn a 73-67 win over the South Alabama Jaguars on Saturday.

The Broncos were able to go 1-1 in the MAC-SBC Challenge this season with their six-point win over South Alabama this weekend. WMU's defense took advantage of the Jaguars ball handling, forcing 15 turnovers and winning the game under the glass 33-31. Sophomore guard Kailey Starks had a career performance for the Brown and Gold on the floor, scoring 33 points with seven rebounds, three steals, a block, and an assist. Also helping Western Michigan to its first 70+ point game in over a month was sophomore guard Alli Harness with 12 points and a rebound.

"I'm feeling great, and I'm really excited we won!" said Starks following the game. "We did not do our job at Ohio. So, we were ready and prepared to win today and we played really hard. We have to scout well and prepare well for Miami on Tuesday. We need to come in with the same mentality like we did today and work hard."

It was a back-and-forth game early on Saturday as both offenses scored out of the jump. The Broncos had the first run of the day to take a four-point lead less than three minutes in. South Alabama matched with a run of its own to take its first lead of the afternoon. The lead was swapped three more times in the first ten minutes with the Jaguars making the last shot of the quarter. WMU trailed by only a basket going into the second quarter.

The second quarter started almost exactly like the first with the teams going bucket for bucket. The Brown and Gold put together five straight points in under 30 seconds to get back in front by three. South Alabama continued to match Western Michigan' scoring as the lead was traded another five times in four minutes. The Jaguars had an 11-3 run in the final three minutes to keep the lead. But Harness made a clutch three pointer for the Broncos with under 10 seconds to go for a 39-36 score at halftime.

WMU's offense struggled to get going early in the second half as South Alabama grew its lead to nine points. But once the Brown and Gold's offense got going it didn't stop, putting together a nine-point run to tie the game up midway through the third. The Jaguars responded with a three to retake the lead, but Western Michigan continued to cut into the deficit at the line. The Bronco defense held South Alabama scoreless for almost three minutes to end the quarter, making it a 56-56 game before the final frame.

A wide-open D'Myjah Bolds scored the first points of the fourth, putting WMU back in front. Starks also sunk a triple almost a minute later to give the Brown and Gold five-point lead. The Jaguars responded with a traditional three-point play, but Western Michigan continued to respond with points of its own. The Broncos grew their lead to six points with just over five minutes left in the game on a three pointer from Bolds. South Alabama got the game within a basket with 2:30 on the clock on free throw attempts. WMU shut down the potential for overtime with four more points from Starks on a layup and two free throws in the final 40 seconds. Bolds grabbed the last rebound of the game to give the Brown and Gold the 73-67 win.

Western Michigan went 23-of-53 from the floor for 43.4% shooting, the team's best since playing NIU on Jan. 21. The Broncos also matched their season-low in turnovers against the Jaguars with only 10 while recording seven takeaways and scoring 19 points off South Alabama turnovers. WMU also recorded the only blocks of the game with three.

Starks recorded the Brown and Gold's first 30+ point performance in two years against the Jaguars. The last Western Michigan player to score 30 or more points was graduate guard Kaitlyn Zarycki's 34-point performance against Akron on Jan. 24, 2024. Starks also led the Broncos under the glass with seven boards, the third time she's done so this season for an all-around game on the floor.

WMU remains home for its next game, taking on the only undefeated MAC team left in Miami (OH). The Brown and Gold host the Redhawks for a midweek matchup on Tuesday, Feb. 10. Tip-off on Tuesday night is set for 7:00 p.m. at University Arena.