KALAMAZOO, Mich. (Interstat) — A dominant first quarter proved to be enough of a cushion for the Western Michigan women’s basketball team to withstand a gritty comeback attempt by Akron, as the Broncos secured a 55-48 victory in a Mid-American Conference contest Wednesday night at University Arena.

Western Michigan, improving to 5-8 overall, exploded for 22 points in the opening period while holding Akron to 14, establishing a lead it would never relinquish before an announced crowd of 632. The Zips, who fell to 3-12, chipped away at the deficit but could never fully recover from the early offensive onslaught.

The Broncos’ early surge was fueled by efficient ball movement and a balanced attack. Guard Alli Carlson of Grand Rapids, Michigan, orchestrated the offense with a game-high seven assists, while her backcourt partner, Alli Harness of Burlington, Indiana, contributed nine points. The opening frame saw Western Michigan connect on key shots, including a three-pointer from Harness and a late triple from Nile Muguira Orbe just before the buzzer to cap the 22-point quarter.

Akron, however, refused to capitulate. The Zips tightened their defense in the second quarter, limiting Western Michigan to just seven points and cutting the halftime margin to 29-24. The defensive effort was anchored by forward Keiryn McGuff of Dublin, Ohio, who swatted away four shots and pulled down eight rebounds.

The Zips’ offensive effort was led by Monique Mitchell of South Bend, Indiana, who scored a team-high 14 points. Akron continued to press in the second half, closing the gap to as few as three points in the fourth quarter. A three-pointer from Mitchell with 9:27 remaining made it 39-36, injecting tension into the final minutes.

The most important part of the game came in response to that surge. Each time Akron threatened, Western Michigan found an answer, often through the interior presence of forward D’Myjah Bolds. The 6-foot-3 sophomore from O’Fallon, Illinois, delivered a crucial performance, scoring a game-high 15 points and grabbing nine rebounds. Her physical play inside provided a consistent counterpunch, including a key layup and free throw with just over four minutes left to extend the lead back to six after Akron had drawn close.

Western Michigan also received a significant contribution from guard Kailey Starks of Evanston, Illinois, who added 13 points. Her defensive pressure was pivotal in the final minute, as she recorded a steal and hit two critical free throws with nine seconds left to seal the outcome.

Despite the loss, Akron showed resilience, outscoring Western Michigan 15-16 in the fourth quarter. McGuff finished with eight points and her four blocks, while Ella Wigal of Granville, Ohio, added six points. The Zips’ comeback bid was ultimately hampered by offensive struggles, particularly from beyond the arc.

The victory gives Western Michigan its second conference win, while Akron continues to search for its first in MAC play. The Broncos were projected as heavy favorites by advanced metrics, and their early execution validated that prediction, even as the Zips made them work until the final seconds.

Western Michigan travels to face Toledo on Saturday. Akron returns home to host Miami (Ohio) the same day.