Bradley BRAD 8-5 (2-0 MVC)

Loyola Chicago LUC 2-12 (0-3 MVC)

Bradley BRAD

8-5 (2-0 MVC)

Final

Jan. 05, 2018

Loyola Chicago LUC

2-12 (0-3 MVC)

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	3	4	F
Bradley BRAD	18	13	13	15	59
Loyola Chicago LUC	11	15	15	16	57

Box Score

Braves Hang On For 59-57 Win At Loyola

Box Score

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | 1/5/2018 9:40:00 PM

CHICAGO, Ill. – Senior Danielle Brewer finished one point off her career high with a season-best 17 points and Bradley Women's Basketball committed a season-low eight turnovers as the Braves hung on for a 59-57 victory at Loyola Friday. Bradley improved to 8-5 overall and 2-0 in MVC play with the victory.

Bradley nearly led from wire-to-wire, but needed some late free throws as the Braves opened Missouri Valley Conference play with back-to-back road wins for the first time since 2008-09.

"They hit some tough shots down the stretch, but we figured out a way to pull it out," said Bradley head coach Andrea Gorski. "Gabi (Haack) didn't get the looks she has been getting lately, but came up with some big rebounds and Dani (Brewer) had her best overall game of the season."

BU took control of the game early with a 13-0 run as the Braves held Loyola scoreless for just over a five-minute stretch. Junior Vanessa Markert, who had 15 points, two assists and three blocks, hit a jumper in the lane to start the spurt and Brewer had a three-point play nearing the six-minute mark. Anneke Schlueter followed a Gabi Haack three-pointer with a pull-up jumper just inside the arc and a Madison Dellamuth three from the wing capped the BU run to give Bradley an 18-5 lead with 2:30 left in the first. Loyola scored the final six points of the opening period to trim BU's lead to 18-11 heading to the second quarter.

The Ramblers pulled within five points in the opening minutes of the second, but Bradley was able to extend the lead back to eight points (26-18) midway through the frame on a Markert baseline jumper closing in on five minutes left in the stanza.

Loyola made 4-of-5 shots from the field over a 2:30 span as the Ramblers were able to trim the Bradley lead to two at (28-26) with 1:18 on the clock. The Braves made three free throws in the final minute, however, to take a 31-26 lead into the locker room at the half.

Back-to-back hoops by Markert and Brewer to open the third quarter quickly pushed the Bradley lead to 35-26 and the Braves held a 37-30 advantage with 4:33 left in the quarter.

Loyola pulled even at 39-39 thanks to nine consecutive points by freshman Abby O'Connor. A pair of Brewer free throws with 2:06 on the clock broke the tie and an Emily Marsh three-pointer helped the Braves to a 44-41 lead heading to the fourth.

Brewer opened the fourth quarter with back-to-back hoops as Bradley pushed the lead back to seven and Shunseere Kent, who battled first-half foul trouble, later banked in a three-pointer from the top of the key to give the Braves a 55-47 edge with just under five minutes to play. A Kent layup with 3:21 left gave Bradley a double-digit lead again at 57-47.

The Braves held Loyola without a field goal for a near six-minute stretch before the Ramblers were able to finally connect on a shot with 2:20 to play. Loyola answered with a 7-0 run to pull within three at 57-54 with 44.8 seconds left. Ellie Rice ended the Rambler drought with a driving layup and Kailyn Strawbridge hit a pair of free throws on the next Loyola trip down the floor.

Bradley came up empty on its next possession, before Tiara Wallace had a layup with 1:15 left to make it a two-possession game at 57-53. Loyola's Kat Nolan split a pair of free throws with 44.8 seconds on the clock as the Braves hung to a 57-54 advantage.

Haack came up with a big offensive rebound on a Bradley miss with under 30 seconds on the clock and Brewer split a pair of free throws with 10.5 ticks to once again make it a two-possession contest (58-54). A Strawbridge three-pointer from the wing with 4.2 second left gave Loyola some hope, pulling the Ramblers with one at 58-57.

Schlueter split a pair of free throws with 1.2 seconds and a desperation heave by Loyola fell short as Bradley hung on for the 59-57 victory.

Bradley committed a season-low eight turnovers in addition to shooting a season-best 76.5 percent from the free throw line (13-of-17) in the victory. Brewer hit a career-best seven free throws, going 7-for-9 from the charity stripe. Kent scored all nine of her points in the second half to help lead the Braves.

Bradley closes out a three-game Missouri Valley Conference road swing Sunday with a 3 p.m. game at MVC newcomer Valparaiso.

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