WMU News

Women's basketball team hosts Northern Illinois, travels to CMU

February 1, 1999

KALAMAZOO -- Western Michigan University women's basketball team (12-7, 5-4 MAC) plays two MAC West Division games this week. The Broncos host Northern Illinois on Wednesday (Feb. 3) beginning at 7 p.m. at University Arena . They travel to Mount Pleasant for a meeting with Central Michigan on Saturday (Feb. 6). That game has a 1 p.m. start.

Previous week action

WMU played two games in three days last week and came away with a 1-1 ledger. Western snapped a two-game losing skid with its 67-63 win at Ball State on Tuesday (Jan. 26) and fell 63-58 to Buffalo on Thursday (Jan. 28) at the DeltaPlex in Grand Rapids.

Key stretch

The Broncos are in the thick of the hunt for a home game in the MAC tournament. WMU has seven regular season games remaining, including four home contests, and is currently one-half game out of fourth place and a homecourt slot for the postseason. Five of the Broncos' final seven foes would qualify for the MAC tournament if the season were to end today.

No. 200

Senior Kelly DeLong added a few more impressive accomplishments to her list. DeLong nailed the 200th three-point basket of her career in Thursday's loss to Buffalo. She finished that game with a team-high 13 points, which moved the senior into ninth place on WMU's all-time scoring list. DeLong has scored 1,143 points during her career as a Bronco. She passed Andrea Kimball (1991-94), who totaled 1,139 points wearing Brown and Gold.

Tip ins

Junior Danielle Mueller saw her five-game streak of scoring in double figures come to an end Thursday against Buffalo. Mueller scored nine points against the Bulls. She had averaged 17.0 ppg. in WMU's last five games prior to Thursday. ** Rookie guard Brooke Gallert played all 40 minutes of the Buffalo loss, marking the second time this season she has played an entire game. ** Shelsea Erving posted her second double-double of the season with 12 points and 11 rebounds against Buffalo. Her 11 caroms match her season best and are just two boards shy of her career high. ** The Broncos shot a season-low .111 (2-18) from three-point range against Buffalo. ** Brianne Gallert missed the first start of her career Tuesday at Ball State because of an illness. She played 25 minutes off the bench this season.

Upcoming opponents

Northern Illinois lost 66-44 at Toledo on Saturday (Jan. 30). The Huskies are 6-13 overall, 3-6 in the MAC entering Wednesday's game. First-year coach Carol Hammerle has developed NIU into one of the top defensive teams in the league. The Huskies surrender just 66.7 ppg. in conference contests, the third-lowest average in the league. NIU is fifth in field goal percentage defense (.418). Amanda Reese (12.6 ppg.) and Michelle Johnson (12.8 ppg.) are the only two Huskies to average double figures in points. Johnson also leads the team in rebounding (8.1 rpg.). WMU is 10-10 all-time versus NIU after sweeping two games last season.

WMU and CMU meet for the second time this season but for the first time in terms of conference standings. Western won 75-57 Nov. 21 in a non-conference meeting. The Chippewas are 10-10 overall, 6-4 in conference play after winning 81-76 at EMU on Saturday. Fran Voll's team ranks second in field goal percentage (.465) and fourth in scoring (75.2 ppg.) in MAC games. CMU is 1 1/2 games ahead of WMU in the standings. Joni Daniels paces the team in scoring in both non-conference (14.7 ppg.) and conference (15.5 ppg.) contests. The Chippewas lead the all-time series with the Broncos 32-27.

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


Office of University Relations
Western Michigan University
1903 W Michigan Ave
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5433 USA
616 387-8400
univ-rel@wmich.edu

http://www.wmich.edu/wmu/news