WMU News

Women's basketball team eyes home court in MAC tournament

February 16, 1999

KALAMAZOO -- The Western Michigan University women's basketball team (16-7, 9-4 Mid-American Conference) hosts MAC #2 Kent State (17-6, 11-2 MAC) on Tuesday (Feb. 16) at 7 p.m. at University Arena in a key conference clash. The Broncos hit the road for the final time during the regular season when they play at Marshall (4-19, 1-12 MAC) on Saturday (Feb. 20) at 2 p.m.

The week in review

WMU stretched its winning streak to four and moved into fourth place in the MAC with two key victories last week. Western won a 55-54 thriller at Buffalo on Wednesday (Feb. 10) in a battle for fourth place in the league. Kelly DeLong hit a baseline jumper with three seconds remaining to give WMU the win over the Bulls. The Broncos knocked off Bowling Green 67-56 Saturday to sweep the season series and tie Akron (9-4 MAC) for third in the conference. DeLong scored a game-high 20 points in that win.

Packing them in

The Broncos' success on court has attracted plenty of attention. WMU drew 1,380 fans to Saturday' s win over Bowling Green. Western has drawn an average of 1,131 fans to its last four home contests

Don't touch that dial

Tuesday's game against Kent as well as WMU's Feb. 23 home game against Akron will be aired by the Bronco Radio Network - WFAT (96.5 FM - Kalamazoo); WWKN (104.9 FM- Battle Creek); WFUR (1570 AM - Grand
Rapids); WZUU (92.3 FM - Allegan); and WTVB (1590 AM - Coldwater). Robin Hook, "the voice of the Broncos", will call the action.

Tip ins

Junior Shelsea Erving scored 28 at Buffalo to pass Megan Boguslawski for 11th place on WMU's all-time scoring list. Erving has 1,125 points after Saturday's game versus Bowling Green and is just 15 points shy of Andrea Kimball, who is tenth on the all-time list with 1,139 points. Erving scored 16 points and matched her career high with 13 boards against the Falcons Saturday for her fourth double-double of the year. ** Western turned the ball over just nine times in the win, the fifth time this season it committed less than 10 miscues. WMU is 4-1 in those games and 13-4 when it has fewer turnovers than its foe. Western is 6-1 when it outboards its opponent. ** DeLong nailed six treys against BGSU, tying her school record for the fourth time in her career and second time in three games. She has canned 63 buckets from beyond the arc this season, leaving her just five threes shy of tying her single season
record of 68. ** Brianne Gallert scored a career-high 17 points against BGSU in 39 minutes of work, while Brooke Gallert matched her career best with eight assists against the Falcons. Brianne had seven assists and played 40 minutes in WMU's win at Buffalo .
   
Upcoming opponents

The Broncos will be trying to snap a six-game losing skid against Kent State on Tuesday. The Flash won 92-63 at University Arena last season and 98-62 in Ohio. Kent State was a perfect 18-0 in conference play last season and has reached the NCAA Tournament in two of the last three seasons. Dawn Zerman leads the team in scoring (15.4 ppg.) and three-point field goals (33). The All-MAC preseason selection is second in the league in assists (5.62 apg.). Julie Studer is second in field goal percentage (.611).

WMU recorded a season-high in points in beating Marshall, 102-84, Jan. 9. The Broncos visit the Thundering Herd on Saturday (Feb. 20). All-MAC preseason selection Kristina Behnfeldt is having a strong season despite her team's struggles. Behnfeldt is ranked among the league leaders in both scoring (2nd - 26.0 ppg.) and rebounding (3rd - 9.8 rpg.). She scored 37 points against WMU Jan. 9.

Media contact: Geoff Brown; 616 387-4138; geoff.brown@wmich.edu


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