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KALAMAZOO, Mich. — The Western Michigan University women’s basketball team returns to conference action against the Mid-American Conference leaders on Tuesday night.

LAST TIME OUT

The Broncos had a big second half performance to earn a 73-67 win over the South Alabama Jaguars on Saturday. WMU went 1-1 in the MAC-SBC Challenge this season with their six-point win over South Alabama this weekend. The Brown and Gold’s defense took advantage of the Jaguars ball handling, forcing 15 turnovers along with winning the game under the glass 33-31.

Sophomore guard Kailey Starks had a career performance for Western Michigan on the floor, scoring 33 points with seven rebounds, three steals, a block, and an assist. Also helping the Broncos to its first 70+ point game in over a month on the floor was sophomore guard Alli Harness with 12 points and a rebound.

MAC-SBC CHALLENGE ROUND UP

WMU remains at an even .500 in the MAC-SBC Challenge at the conclusion of its third iteration during the 2025-26 season. The Brown and Gold opened the season with a loss to Appalachian State, but bounced back over the weekend to even its record at 1-1 on the season. Western Michigan is now 3-3 in the scheduling challenge after three seasons, with wins over South Alabama, Texas State, and Arkansas State. The Broncos victory against South Alabama on Saturday was the first MAC win of the day in the second round of the MAC-SBC Challenge as well.

MAKING IT AT THE CHARITY STRIPE

WMU made a season-high 22 free throws against South Alabama on Saturday. It was only the second time this season the Brown and Gold has made 20 or more free throws while having six games through 21 games with over 20 attempts. Three Western Michigan players had perfect afternoon’s at the line for 81% of the Broncos points from the stripe. Starks led all WMU players with 10 made free throws while Harness and freshman guard Olivia Flynn made all four of their free throw chances.

CAREER GAMES

Sophomore guard Kailey Starks was the main offensive driver of the Brown and Gold’s win on Saturday afternoon over the Jaguars. Starks set a new career-high in scoring with 33 points with a 100% game at the line and a 50% game shooting from the floor. Starks also had Western Michigan’s first 30+ point performance since January of 2024 when graduate guard Kaitlyn Zarycki scored 34 points against Akron. Starks also set career highs in made field goals (11), field goal attempts (22), and free throws made (10). 

Starks wasn’t the only Bronco to reset career highs on Saturday afternoon. Flynn had the best game of her young career against South Alabama as she set multiple career highs. The freshman had her best numbers in both free throws made (4) and free throw attempts (4), along with steals (2), and minutes played (21). 

SERIES HISTORY

Tuesday night is the 76th meeting between WMU and Miami dating back to the 1980s. The Redhawks hold a slight edge in the series going into Tuesday’s game at 41-34. Part of that edge is the five game win streak Miami currently has in the series, going back to the 2021-22 season. The Brown and Gold last beat the Redhawks on Jan. 22, 2022 in Oxford by a score of 63-54. 

In the team’s only meeting last season, Western Michigan came close to ending its drought with a 57-51 loss at home.. Junior Marina Asensio scored a team-high 16 points, while graduate student Hannah Spitzley tied a game-high with seven rebounds. Spitzley also improved her career three-point total to 97, her steals total to 159, and her blocks total to 54, tying Kamrin Reed (2016-20) for the 17th most three-pointers made in program history, and Meredith (Shipman) Applin (2013-17) for the 13th most steals by a Bronco.

SCOUTING THE REDHAWKS

Miami currently sits atop the MAC standings as the only team without a conference loss midway through conference play. The Redhawks have 10 MAC wins while having an overall record of 19-4. Miami’s four losses have all come on the road, with its last loss happening on Dec. 14 at Colorado. The Redhawks had their largest loss of the season to the Buffaloes in a 20-point margin of defeat. 

But during Miami’s current 12 game win streak the team has been led by four players averaging double figures. Junior forward Amber Tretter is the Redhawks leader in both offense and defense, averaging 14.8 points and 8.1 rebounds a game. She is also fourth in the MAC in rebounds with 187 boards on the season so far. Miami’s other double figure players include senior guard Amber Scalia (14.1), sophomore forward Ilse de Vries (12.5), and sophomore guard Tamar Singer (10.3).