KALAMAZOO, Mich. (Dec. 19, 2008) – Chicago State women's basketball fell to host Western Michigan by a score of 72-63 Thursday evening at University Arena in Kalamazoo, Mich. The Broncos improved to 3-6 on the year, while the Cougars saw their record slip to 5-7.
The visitors posted an early 6-2 advantage after a layup from junior Alyssa Waldon (Sun Prairie, WI/Sun Prairie) (Sun Prairie, Wis.) at 18:25 before Western Michigan scored six of the next eight points over two minutes to gain a 11-8 lead with 16:23 left in the half when sophomore Ebony Cleary connected on a pair of free throws. CSU then tallied four straight points to regain the lead at 12-11 on two free throws from freshman Jael Peña (Harlem, N.Y.) at 15:21.
The Broncos later responded with a 16-10 scoring drive which broke a 13-all tie in nine minutes and turned into a 29-21 lead at the 4:29 mark that was culminated with a layup by freshman Miame Giden. A 12-4 run by the Cougars in the final four minutes eventually knotted the score at 33-33 on a jumper by Alyssa Waldon (Sun Prairie, WI/Sun Prairie), who had five points during the run, but Giden scored on a layup with five seconds remaining to send WMU into halftime with a slim 35-33 leading margin.
CSU started the second half by scoring seven of the first nine points in four minutes to claim a 40-39 lead after a layup by sophomore Elana Wroten (Chicago, IL/Morgan Park) (Chicago, Ill.) at 16:24. Another 8-2 run helped WMU regain the lead at 47-41 after a Giden layup with 12:19 left in the game before the Cougars scored six consecutive points to even the score at 47-47 thanks to a pair of free throw by junior Laureen Pierson (Dayton, OH/Northmont) (Dayton, Ohio) at the 10:45 mark. A layup by sophomore Breana Bankston opened a 9-1 Bronco run in a two-plus minute stretch to claim a 56-48 advantage at 8:15, but back-to-back threes from sophomore Courtney Waldon (Sun Prairie, WI/Sun Prairie) (Sun Prairie, Wis.) in just 37 seconds sliced WMU's lead to 56-54 with 7:17 remaining. The home team later produced a 14-4 run in the final six minutes to close the game that included going 10-of-11 from the line.
Alyssa Walden paced the Cougars with 16 points on 7-of-15 shooting, while senior Jasmin Dixon (Detroit, MI/Martin Luther King) (Detroit, Mich.) recorded 10 points, six rebounds and a game-high four steals. Wroten also finished with 10 points and added eight rebounds.
Giden tallied a double-double with game highs of 21 points and 11 rebounds to lead Western Michigan. Cleary recorded 14 points and went 8-of-8 from the line, while senior Tiera Delahoussaye notched 12 points, six boards and four assists for the Broncos.
CSU is back in action on Monday, Dec. 22 at the Emil and Patricia Jones Convocation Center with a home contest against Drake in its final game before Christmas. The start time for the game is set for 7 p.m.
~ CSU ~
