In a thrilling display of skill, Western Michigan University's senior guard Alli Carlson set a new personal record by sinking five three-pointers in the final non-conference game against the highly ranked 19th Ohio State Buckeyes. The match ended in a 95-47 loss for the Broncos, with Carlson leading the way with 15 points, the only player to reach double digits. Four other players contributed eight points each, and senior forward Ariana Wilkes showcased her defensive prowess with 10 rebounds.
The game began with Western Michigan winning the tip-off, but the Buckeyes quickly took the lead. Despite the initial challenge, the Broncos matched the Buckeyes' shots for the first four minutes. However, a 8-2 run by Ohio State put them ahead by eight points. Carlson's second three-pointer of the night brought the deficit back to three, and she added another three before the end of the first quarter, bringing Western Michigan to 15 points. The Buckeyes, however, dominated the first half, leading 28-15 after 10 minutes.
The second quarter was a slow affair for both teams, with only 13 points scored in the first half of the frame. Carlson's fourth three-pointer of the game early in the quarter highlighted the WMU offense's struggles over the next six minutes. The Brown and Gold managed to score seven points in the final three minutes of the first half, trailing 53-25 at halftime. Western Michigan began the second half with two quick buckets, but their offensive drought continued for seven minutes.
Sophomore guard Alli Harness broke the ice with a three-pointer at just over two minutes to go, followed by a layup from sophomore guard Kailey Starks before the end of the third quarter. The fourth quarter saw the Brown and Gold's best run of the night, scoring six points before the halfway mark. Western Michigan briefly matched Ohio State in shots, but the Buckeyes' strong run kept the Broncos from scoring in the final two and a half minutes, resulting in a final score of 95-47.
The team will have a week off for the Christmas holidays before returning to action on New Year's Eve to begin Mid-American Conference play. They will make their first trip to UMass as conference foes to close out the calendar year, with a tip-off set for 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 31, in Amherst, Massachusetts.
