Column - Why women's basketball is going through a rough patch

Western Herald - sports









Despite two recent victories, it seems the Western Michigan University women’s basketball team has been out of it lately, losing five straight before picking up a victories against Bowling Green State University on Feb. 15 and Eastern Michigan University on Feb. 18.











The saying goes, “defense wins championships” and the root of the Broncos problems stems from their defense. The problem isn’t that the Broncos don’t defend well overall, as they’re ranked fourth in the Mid-American Conference in scoring defense, but the devil is in the details.






During the Broncos recent five game-losing streak, they allowed an average of 30.8 points per game in the paint. In each of the Broncos’ losses this season they have surrendered 26 plus points in the paint. This is not helped by the fact that the Broncos only have one player on the team who averages a block per game in junior center Marley Hill. Despite ranking No. 8 in the MAC in blocked shots as a team, if you watch the Broncos play you will often see that the team doesn’t rotate fast enough when the ball is being passed thus allowing guards to exploit gaps in the defense.





Although the defense deserves blame for the Broncos, nothing is impairing the Broncos more than their lack of threats from the three-point line. Senior guard Meredith Shipman is the Broncos’ most consistent threat from the three-point line, converting 35 percent of her attempts. The Broncos’ next most consistent threat from beyond the arc is junior guard Najee Smith, who has made 33 percent of her attempts. Following Smith is freshman guard Karim Reed, who is shooting 27 percent from three.





Not being able to shoot the three is one thing, but not being able to defend the three is another and the Broncos struggle with both. The Broncos are ranked No. 8 in opponent’s three-point percentage and ...


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