FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mark Albanese, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Media Relations

Box Score

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (Nov. 13, 2015)-- The University of Wisconsin-Parkside women's basketball team led Division I Western Michigan University late in the third period on Friday evening but was unable to finish off the host Broncos, stumbling 56-49 in an exhibition inside University Arena.
 
Western Michigan roared out to a 19-9 lead with 1:55 left in the opening period but the pesky Rangers wouldn't back down, getting layups from Jessica Prince and Stephanie Furr to close the gap to just six after 10 minutes of play.
 
UW-Parkside continued to nibble at the deficit in the second quarter, holding the Broncos scoreless over the final 7:44 of the opening half and utilizing a 9-0 spurt to head into the locker room at intermission tied 24-24.
 
Kristin Conniff initiated the final run of the first half, hitting a jumper with 5:56 left before getting back-to-back buckets from Shelby Cheston to close within a possession. Tara Knapstein drained a three with three minutes left to deadlock the contest while neither team was able to generate a bucket the rest of the half.
 
WMU quickly established a five-point buffer in the third period but the Rangers again battled back, scoring six straight, including a layup from Furr with 3:19 left to give the visitors the 32-31 lead.
 
The lead proved fleeting for Parkside with the Broncos quickly regaining the lead and owning a 38-34 spread after three periods. UW-Parkside narrowed the gap to a single point on two occasions in the fourth but was unable to regain the lead, eventually falling by seven.
 
Conniff was the lone Ranger in double figures, securing 12 points while Lauren Boerger added eight points and five rebounds. Taylor Stephen had a team-best three steals while Cheston secured six boards.
 
Teagan Reeves powered WMU with 21 points with Meredith Shipman adding 12 points and seven rebounds.
 
Friday's contest was considered an exhibition for the Rangers but was the regular season opener for the host Broncos.
 
UW-Parkside begins the regular season on Sunday, hosting Tiffin University at 1 p.m. inside DeSimone Gymnasium.