Box Score
HARRISONBURG, Va.- Kemmy Dominique tied a career high sinking three 3's and Ebony Cleary shot 8-for-12 from the floor to lead Western Michigan past UNC Asheville at the James Madison Invitational Tuesday night.
Western Michigan shot 40 percent for the game and led 34-23 at the half. It was one of WMU's better shooting performances in recent outings, as the team had connected on less than 35 percent in its last five games.
Cleary finished with a game-high 20 points, one less than her career high, and Dominique ended with 17. Dominique got the hot hand midway through the first half, fueling a 20-5 run over the last seven minutes before the break. She scored 11 of WMU's 20 points in that stretch, knocking down three 3's. After trailing 18-14, a three by senior Molly Dwyer pulled the Broncos in front, 19-18, and Western Michigan carried the lead until the end.
WMU led by as many as 15 lead in the second half, allowing the Bulldogs cut the deficit to single digits only briefly on three occasions. A bucket and two offensive rebounds by Lindsey Montgomery gave UNCA one final push at the end, but Asheville never got closer than seven points.
Miame Giden was the third Bronco to score in double figures with 11 points and grabbed a team-high seven rebounds, six offensive. She and Dwyer each set career highs for assists. Dwyer dished out a team season-best eight helpers and Giden handed out six.
Western Michigan came up with 14 steals, four by DeAirra Goss, and won the rebounding battle, 38-29. The Broncos grabbed 10 more offensive rebounds as WMU punished UNCA on second chance points, 26-4.
Its second win in the last three tries, Western Michigan improves to 5-7 on the season. The Bulldogs fell to 3-8.
Western Michigan plays the winner of the No. 25 James Madison/Lafayette contest (which followed the WMU-UNCA game) in the invitational championship tomorrow at 7 p.m.
GAME NOTES: First ever meeting between WMU and UNC Asheville ... Western Michigan was the home team in the neutral contest ... with the win, WMU surpassed its non-conference win total (4) from last season ... 11 points was the largest margin of victory for WMU this season ... Dwyer four 3's away from 100 for career.
