Box Score
NORMAL, Ill. -- Illinois State used a 13-2 second-half run to pull away from Bradley as the Redbirds handed the Braves their third consecutive less, defeating BU 66-51 Sunday afternoon in Missouri Valley Conference women's basketball action at Redbird Arena. The Braves fell to 6-16 overall, 2-11 in Valley play with the loss.
Bradley used a 7-0 run to grad an early 16-10 lead with 9:32 left in the first half, before Megan McCracken scored nine consecutive points for Illinois State to put the Redbirds on top 19-16 with 7:57 remaining in the period. The Braves kept pace with Illinois State in the closing minutes of the half, trailing 29-26 at the break.
Bradley shot just 30 percent from the field in the first half but forced 13 first-half ISU turnovers. The Redbirds shot 47.8 percent, including four of six three-point attempts in the opening half of play.
The Braves scored seven of the first nine points of the second half to grab a 33-31 lead on a driving bucket by sophomore Libby Magnuson. McCracken then scored five consecutive points for ISU to help key a 10-0 Redbird run that gave Illinois State a 41-33 lead with 14:11 to play.
Consecutive baskets by Magnuson helped Bradley pull to within five points (47-42) with 9:21 to go, before the Braves went cold from the field. Bradley went scoreless for the next 4:20 of play and scored just two points over a span of seven minutes as Illinois State used a 13-2 run to cruise to the 66-51 victory.
Magnuson led all scorers with a career-high 18 points on 9-of-17 shooting from the field. Junior Jen Brown joined Magnuson in double figures with 11 points.
Illinois State (9-12 overall, 4-8 MVC) had three players reach double figures in scoring with McCracken leading the way for the Redbirds with 17 points. Holly Hallstrom added a double-double with 15 points and career-high 18 rebounds.
The Braves shot 35.5 percent in the second half and finished the day shooting 32.8 percent from the field. Illinois State shot 46 percent on the afternoon and made 14-of-19 free throw attempts.
Bradley opens its final homestand of the season Friday when the Braves play host to Northern Iowa Friday at 7:05 p.m. at Robertson Memorial Field House.