By Staff
KALAMAZOO – The Western Michigan women's basketball team will open the 2007-08 season at the Women's Sport Foundation Challenge, Nov. 9-11, hosted by the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque.
Playing three games in three days, the Broncos will face the Lobos (10 p.m, Nov. 9), Northwestern (8 p.m, Nov. 10) and Dayton (2 p.m., Nov. 11).
The games will be streamed live online through tournament central at www.GoLobos.com.
Western Michigan rolled over No. 12 NAIA opponent Davenport in exhibition play on Nov. 2, behind a 22-point effort from freshman Brenna Banktson and double-doubles by freshman Ebony Cleary and junior Tiera DeLaHoussaye.
"I think we spread the floor well, and shared the ball," WMU head coach Ron Stewart said. "We got good shots and shot the ball well. I think we figured out after the first half how we needed to defend and did a much better job getting ball pressure and help off the ball in the second half.
"It was a good team effort, but it was very encouraging to see the play out of the two freshmen, Brenna and Ebony," Stewart added. "Ebony gets a double-double and I feel like when we needed someone to step up, Brenna did that for us."
Eighteen of Banktson's game-high 22 points came after halftime. The 2006 Miss Michigan Basketball was almost perfect in the second period, going 8-for-9 from the field and making her only free throw attempt. She finished the night shooting 10-for-13 from the floor.
Cleary displayed her athletic ability on both ends, pouring in 15 points and grabbing a game-high 12 rebounds. She too was nearly flawless, shooting 5-for-6 from the field, while going 5-for-5 from the charity stripe. DeLaHoussaye paced the Broncos' up-tempo offense, dishing out 11 assists and scoring 10 points of her own.
Sophomore Sara Vest also reached double figures, chipping in 14 points, seven boards and four steals. Western Michigan owned the glass, out-rebounding DU, 54-31.
Every member of the Bronco squad scored, as the team shot over 51 percent for the game. Western Michigan built significant leads in both halves, only to see the Panthers claw their way back, before the Brown &Gold pulled away in the final seven minutes. WMU led at the half, 41-36, and had built an 18-point advantage with 12:05 to go, but Davenport pulled to within seven with 7:27 remaining. The Broncos closed out the victory with a strong finish, out-scoring their opponent, 28-7. Banktson scored 10 points in that span.
Niles sophomore Sarah Dreher scored three points, grabbed four rebounds and had two steals in 17 minutes of court time.