PEORIA, Ill. -- Southern Illinois limited Bradley to just four field goals and 18.2 percent shooting in the second half, as the Salukis blew open a four-point game at the half and defeated the Braves 64-40 in Missouri Valley Conference women's basketball action Thursday night at Robertson Memorial Field House. Bradley fell to 5-10 overall and 1-3 in Valley play with the setback.

The Salukis (8-8 overall, 4-1 MVC) forced 14 Bradley turnovers in the first half and took an early 10-point lead just eight minutes into the ball game. The Braves would cut the deficit to three points (22-19) with just over eight minutes to play before the break and SIU held a 28-24 edge at the half.

Bradley trailed 30-27 after the first minute of the second half, before Jayme Sweere connected on back-to-back three-pointers to spark a 14-2 SIU run that pushed the Salukis lead to 44-29 with 14:35 to play. Senior Erika Nelson's layup with 12:18 to play would trim the SIU lead to 47-34. That would be as close as the Braves would get as Bradley went cold from the field, missing 13 consecutive shots and committing five turnovers during the next 11:40 of play during a 17-4 Saluki run that put SIU ahead 64-38. Junior Felicia Nekmouche's basket with 35.5 seconds on the clock ended the long drought from the field.

The Salukis entered the game with the top field goal percentage in the MVC (48 percent), but the Braves turned in a solid defensive effort, holding SIU to its lowest field goal percentage of the season (39.1). After shooting 52.6 percent in the first half, Bradley struggled offensively in the second half of play, connecting on just four field goals and shooting 18.2 percent (4-for-22) from the field in the final 20 minutes.

The Braves committed a season-high 25 turnovers and forced a season-low nine turnovers for their opponent. Southern Illinois took advantage of the Bradley miscues, coming away with 18 steals and posting a 27-4 edge in points off turnovers.

Nelson was the only Bradley player in double figures, finishing the night with 14 to go along with two assists and two steals. Junior Devyn Flanagan added nine points and was the only other Brave to score more than six points.

Sweere led Southern Illinois with a game-high 20 points and also added seven rebounds and seven steals. Carlai Moore, the Salukis leading scorer averaging 16.1 points per game, was limited to 12 points, but added six boards, four assists and a blocked shot.

Bradley returns to action Saturday when the Braves host Evansville in a 7:05 p.m. game at Robertson Memorial Field House.