GAME #1 • Friday, Nov. 14 • 8:30 PM
Western Michigan Broncos (0-0, 0-0 MAC)
vs. UMass Minutewomen (0-0, 0-0 A10)
Location: Kalamazoo, Mich.
Site: University Arena (5,421)
All-Time Series Record: Tied, 1-1
Radio: Joe Roberts, 1660 AM The Fan - Listen Online
Live Video Stream: Bronco Insider
Live Stats
THE TIP-OFF
For the second-straight season, Western Michigan faces UMass in its season-opener ... last year, the Broncos defeated the Minutewomen in Amherst, Mass., 66-58 ... WMU begins its 11-game non-conference schedule with back-to-back home games, as North Dakota State visits University Arena five days from today, Nov. 19.
DOUBLE YOUR FUN
The Western Michigan volleyball team takes the court against in-state rival Eastern Michigan Friday night at 6 p.m., prior to the women's basketball contest against UMass. A ticket purchased for volleyball is also good for women's basketball - a 2 for 1 special.
WESTERN MICHIGAN PICKED PRESEASON THIRD MAC WEST
Western Michigan returns almost its entire roster from last year, including all five starters, and was picked to finish third in the Mid-American Conference West Division after posting a 13-18 overall record, 8-10 MAC record in 2013-14 ... it is the highest preseason ranking for WMU since the Broncos were picked to finish second in the 2006-07 season.
2014-15 MAC East Preseason Poll
1. Buffalo (8 First Place Votes)
2. Bowling Green (3)
3. Akron
4. Ohio (1)
5. Miami
6. Kent State
2014-15 MAC West Preseason Poll
1. Central Michigan (11) - predicted tournament champion
2. Ball State (1)
3. Western Michigan
4. Toledo
5. Eastern Michigan
6. Northern Illinois
WHAT WE ARE WORKING WITH
The team features four seniors - Marquisha Harris, A.J. Johnson, Michelle O'Brien and Jazmine Windham ... a strong junior class is led by 6-0 forward Miracle Woods, who led the team in scoring (16.5 ppg) and rebounding (7.2 rpg) in 2013-14 and was a Preseason All-MAC pick this season ... the other two juniors are point guard Alex Morton and Jessica Jessing, the team's Sixth Man of the Year recipient the last two seasons ... Meredith Shipman is the lone sophomore and five talented freshmen join the roster - LaTondra Brooks, Aneisha Carlisle, Alexis Parks, Najee Smith and Teagan Reeves ... Brooks, Carlisle, Parks and Smith all play the guard position, while Reeves is a 6-3 center and is listed as the tallest player on the team.
THE HEAD COACH
The Broncos are led by third-year head coach Shane Clipfell, who has improved the program's win total in each of his first two seasons ... two years ago, Clipfell took on the task of rebuilding the Bronco program that had posted just 33 wins and 17 conference victories in the four seasons prior. ... since then, the Broncos have advanced to the second round of the MAC Tournament in Cleveland in back-to-back seasons.
WMU SCORES 91 IN EXHIBITION VICTORY
The Broncos stormed past Purdue Calumet (NAIA, Division II opponent) in exhibition, 91-55, last Saturday at University Arena ... junior forward Jessica Jessing led five Broncos in double figures, tallying 19 points and 13 rebounds ... senior A.J. Johnson also tallied 19 points and was a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the arc ... in her debut, 6-3 freshman center Teagan Reeves just missed a double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds ... the Broncos shot 50 percent from the field in each half and buried 11 of 26 three-points attempts (42.3%) ... WMU dominated its smaller opponent on the boards, 50-30, and forced 21 turnovers.
SCOUTING UMASS
UMass is under the direction of head coach Sharon Dawley, in her fifth season ... UMass won just four games last season, going 4-27, and was picked last (14th out of 14 teams) in the Atlantic 10 Conference this season ... senior 6-0 center Kim Pierre-Louis returns as the team's top player after averaging 13.1 ppg and 6.6 rpg in 2013-14.
