Women's Basketball Game Notes at Illinois State (Jan. 28, 2007)

Women's Basketball Game Notes at Illinois State (Jan. 28, 2007)

Bradley University Women's Basketball 1/26/2007 6:00:00 AM

The Matchup

Bradley is looking to alternate wins and losses for the seventh straight outing in Sunday's first installment of the I-74 rivaly with Illinois State, after suffering a 50-63 home loss to Indiana State Thursday night. The Braves ended a five-game losing streak with a 62-57 road win at Drake on Jan. 8 and have alternated wins and losses since then. A win would give Bradley back-to-back road wins for the first time since March 2005.

Illinois State enters Sunday's game atop the MVC standings with a 15-4 overall record and 8-0 league mark. The Redbirds have won eight consecutive games and 13 of their last 15 after opening the season with a 2-2 mark.

Sophomore point guard Kristi Cirone leads the high-powered offensive attack for the Redbirds, which leads the Valley in scoring margin (+6.6 per game), rebounding (41.5 rpg), rebounding margin (+6.4), blocks (3.9) and assists (17.2).

Cirone ranks among the league leaders in scoring averaging 15.4 points per game, including 19.6 points per tilt in Valley games, and is tops in the conference handing out 6.68 assists per contest. Freshman forward Kenyatta Shelton is tossing 11.3 points per game and leads the team in rebounding at 8.1 boards per contest, while senior guard Megan McCracken is also in double figures at 10.2 points per game. Junior center Lashawn Johnson leads the MVC in field goal percentage, shooting 64.4 points per game and is averaging 8.2 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. Sophomore center Nicoole Lewis is second in field goal percentage at 59.5 percent and is tossing in 8.5 ppg.

Bradley has held five of its last six opponents to 68 points or less, surrendering 65.0 points per game during that stretch, but have struggled offensively, scoring just 59.2 points per game during that same time frame. The Braves have fared better on the road, averaging 66.5 points per game in 11 road games, compared to 63.6 points per game in the eight home contests so far this season.

Senior Erika Nelson is the team's leading scorer at 13.8 points per game and is averaging a Missouri Valley Conference best 2.7 three-pointers per game. She has more than doubled her career three-point total entering the season and her 262 points on the year is 24 points short of matching her previous two seasons point totals combined (286 points).

Junior Devyn Flanagan is the only other Bradley player in double figures, scoring 12.7 per tilt. Flanagan has struggled offensively of late, scoring 12.3 points per game on just 33 percent shooting over the last three games, but has picked up her all-around game averaging 10.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.3 blocks and 3.3 steals per game during that stretch.

Sophomore Kelly Krumwiede is the team's leading rebounder at 7.2 rebounds per game and also leads the team in field goal shooting at 49 percent, while averaging 9.8 points per game. Senior center Amy Peters has scored in double figures three of the last four outings and is averaging 9.4 points per tilt.

Bradley's six returning players have combined for 1114 of the 1240 points (89.8 percent) this season and are shooting 40.4 percent (401-993) from the field, while the six newcomers have combined to average 6.6 points per game and shoot 27.1 percent from the field.

About Illinois State

Bradley will complete the first half of Missouri Valley Conference play with its sixth road game since league play began, when the Braves face I-74 rival Illinois State Sunday at Redbird Arena. The most played series in school history, Illinois State leads Bradley 35-23, but the two teams have split the regular-season series each of the last three seasons and the Braves have won at least one game against the Redbirds in each of the last seven seasons. Bradley holds a slim 8-6 lead in the series since the start of the 1999-2000 season, including a 7-5 advantage under head coach Paula Buscher. The Braves are 10-19 in road games in the series and have lost three consecutive games at Redbird Arena dating back to a 70-54 victory on Feb. 9, 2003.

The Coaches

Paula Buscher (Missouri State, ?86) is in her seventh year at Bradley and has a record of 79-107 (.425) at BU. Buscher led teams to improved records in each of her first five seasons as a collegiate head coach and six of her nine seasons overall. Buscher owns a 122-145 (.457) career record and is in her 10th year as a collegiate head coach. A longtime assistant coach at Nebraska-Omaha, Buscher coached Minnesota St.-Mankato during the 1997-98 season and returned to UNO as head coach for the 1998-99 and 1999-00 seasons, before coming to The Hilltop.

Robin Pingeton (St. Ambrose ?90) is in her fourth season as head coach at Illinois State and 12th overall as a collegiate head coach. The 2004 Rawlings Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year, she has a 56-51 (.523) record at Illinois State. Pingeton and her Redbirds are off to an 8-0 start to Valley play this season. She led Illinois State to the 2005 NCAA Tournament after winning the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament in Normal, Ill.

Stats At A Glance

Bradley............................................ Illinois State

65.3................... Points Per Game................... 76.5

71.2............. Points Allowed Per Game............. 69.9

.388................ Field Goal Percentage................ .463

.430.......... Field Goal Percentage Defense.......... .410

.326........................ 3-Pt. FG%........................ .359

.737...................... Free Throw%..................... .659

37.9................. Rebounds Per Game................ 41.5

13.1............. Offensive Reb. Per Game............. 13.7

+0.6.................... Rebound Margin.................... +6.4

14.3................... Assists Per Game.................. 17.2

17.3................ Turnovers Per Game................ 16.7

2.9..................... Blocks Per Game.................... 3.9

7.5..................... Steals Per Game..................... 6.3

Most Played Rivalry Renewed

Sunday's game between Illinois State and Bradley will mark the 59th meeting between the two programs in a series that dates back to the 1975-76 season. The Braves and Redbirds have faced each other twice in a season each of the last 23 years. Bradley has faced a total of four opponents 50 times or more, with the Missouri State series (53 meetings) ranking second in school history.

Brown Enjoys I-74 Rivalry

Senior guard Jen Brown has saved some of her best performances for the annual meetings with I-74 rival Illinois State. Brown, who enters the game with career averages of 6.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists per game, has averaged 9.8 points, 3.7 boards, 5.5 assists and 2.3 steals in six meetings with the Redbirds. In addition her career 3.3 assist-to-turnover ratio against Illinois State, is her best against a Valley opponent. She is averaging 8.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game in three games at Redbird Arena against Illinois State.

Flanagan Stepping Up All Around Play

While junior guard Devyn Flanagan has averaged 12.3 points per game over the last three games, she has struggled offensively, shooting 33.3 percent during that stretch, including 22.2 percent (2-for-9) from beyond the arc. While Flanagan's outside shots may not be falling, she has certainly stepped up in other areas, averaging 10.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.3 blocks and 3.3 steals per game over those same three games. She had averaged 3.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.1 blocks and 1.7 steals per game in the first 15 games of the season.

Brown Starts 100th Game

Over the last three-plus seasons one thing has almost always been certain about the Braves starting lineup - senior point guard Jen Brown has been in it. Brown made the 100th start of her career Thursday night against Indiana State, marking her just the fourth player since the start of the 1984-85 season (when records of starts were first available in Bradley records), to start 100 games as a Brave. She had started the first 45 games of her career before coming off the bench against Creighton on Jan. 30, 2005. Brown then started 45 consecutive games again before coming off the bench Dec. 3 against Loyola. She is currently fourth in school history in starts since the start of the 1984-85 season with 100 and needs just six starts to pass Karin Nicholls for third place. With at least 11 games remaining this season, Brown needs nine starts to break Dawn Cartwright's school record. Erika Nelson is the only other player on the roster to start more than 50 games, owning 73 starts.

Bradley's Career Starts Leaders Since 1984-85

Rank Name (Years)................................... Starts

1. Dawn Cartwright (1992-96)...................... 108

2. Heather Best (1995-99)............................ 107

3. Karin Nicholls (1986-90).......................... 105

4. Jen Brown (2003-present)..................... 100

5. Shelli Braud (1984-88).............................. 98

6. Andrea McAllister (1988-92)....................... 86

7. Val Wancket (1987-91).............................. 81

8. Jenn Jolley (1997-01)............................... 79

9. Eileen Yerkes (1988-92)............................ 78

10. Sara Bailey (1999-03)............................... 76

Erika Nelson (2003-present)................... 73

Braves Off To Good Start In Valley Play

Bradley opened Missouri Valley Conference play with a 3-4 record, despite playing five of its first seven league games on the road and currently own a 3-5 league mark. The Braves have already picked up two MVC road wins, after going 1-8 in conference road games last season. The 3-4 start to league play, marks the 12th time in 24 years of conference affiliation that Bradley has gone 3-4 or better in the first seven games of league play, but just the second time in the last 10 years the Braves have opened Valley play at 3-4 or better.

Nelson Torches Shockers For 31

Senior Erika Nelson single handedly kept Bradley in the game at Wichita State at Jan. 19, scoring 52 percent of the Braves points with a career-high 31 against the Shockers. Nelson, who hit 10-of-14 shots (including 7-of-9 three-pointers), had the first 30-point outing by a Bradley player since Genny Mueller scored 33 against Indiana State on March 6, 2004. Her 7-of-9 shooting beyond the arc also ranks as the second best three-point field goal percentage in school history (minimum five made three-pointers).

Brown Tops 400 Assists

Senior Jen Brown became the third player in school history to record 400 assists, dishing out three assists in Bradley's win at Missouri State (Jan. 21). Brown ranks third in school history with 405 career assists and needs just seven assists to break into the Missouri Valley Conference career leaders. She will likely end her career in third place in school history, however, as she needs 127 assists to catch Judy Burns for second place. The fourth player in program history to have 100 or more assists in back-to-back seasons, Brown joined Kathy Stokes and Burns as the only players in school history to lead the team in assists in three different seasons and has a chance to be the only individual to accomplish that feat all four years.

Bradley's Career Assists Leaders

Rank Name (Years)......................... Total Assists

1. Kathy Stokes (1977-81)........................... 543

2. Judy Burns (1981-84)............................. 529

3. Jen Brown (2003-present)..................... 405

4. Andrea McAllister (1988-92)..................... 360

Home Sweet Home

Bradley opened Missouri Valley Conference play with five of its first seven games on the road and has played 11 of the first 18 games overall away from home. The Braves, which enter this week's action in seventh in the Valley standings, will play six of the final nine games at home where Bradley owns a 4-4 record this season.

Nelson Ties Career High

Senior Erika Nelson connected on 7-of-9 three-point attempts in the game at Wichita State (Jan. 19), marking the second time this season the guard has hit seven three-pointers in a game. Nelson joined Andrea McAllister as the only Brave to hit seven or more three-pointers in a pair of games. Earlier this season Nelson made 7-of-11 trey's against Northern Illinois, tying a Robertson Field House record. For the season, she has hit 52 three-pointers which ranks as the 10th best season total in school history.

Peters From Long Range

One of the reasons Bradley hit a season-high 11 three-pointers in last Sunday's win at Missouri State, was the long range shooting of senior center Amy Peters. She entered the game with just six made three-pointers on the year and was shooting 24 percent, but hit 4-of-6 attempts beyond the arc and scored a season-high 18 points. Peters set a school season mark for three-point field goal percentage last year, shooting 42.2 percent (27-for-64) from beyond the arc.

Braves Earn First Ever Win At Knapp Center

Bradley picked up its first-ever victory at the Drake Knapp Center, defeating the Bulldogs (62-57) on Jan. 8. The Braves had never won a game at the Knapp Center, which opened in 1993-94, going 0-13 in road games against Drake since defeating the Bulldogs in Des Moines, Iowa, on Feb. 25, 1993. Bradley also lost a pair of State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament games at the Knapp Center as the Braves ended a 15-game losing streak in Des Moines with Monday's victory.

Braves End Nine-Game Road Skid

Bradley ended a nine-game road losing streak with a 62-57 victory at Drake on Jan. 8. The Braves entered the game 0-7 on the season on the road and the road losing skid dated back to a win at Creighton on March 2, 2006. The nine-game road losing streak was the longest for the Braves since dropping 18 consecutive road games between the 1998-99 and 1999-2000 seasons.

Braves Edge Aces

Bradley's two-point victory against Evansville on Jan. 13 ended a four-game losing streak in games decided by two points or less that dated back to the 2004-05 season. The Braves had also lost five consecutive games decided by three points or less heading into the contest against the Purple Aces. Bradley's last two-point win was a 57-55 home victory against Illinois State on Jan. 21, 2004. This season the Braves are a perfect 4-0 in games decided by eight points or less.

For Three!!

Senior Erika Nelson entered this week's play leading the Valley and ranked 14th nationally in three-point field goals per game, making 2.83 per contest. This season she has connected on 52 three-pointers, the most for a Bradley player since Genny Mueller hit 54 trey's in 2004-05, which ranks 10th among school season marks. Nelson also leads the team in three-point field goal percentage, shooting 41.6 percent (52-for-125) from beyond the arc and has made 24-of-55 three-point attempts (.436) in Bradley's eight home games and is averaging 3.0 makes from beyond the arc in home contests. Nelson is shooting just 28-for-70 (40.0 percent) from long range in games away from home and is averaging 2.55 trey's per road tilt.

Three-Point FGs Made (Season)

3FG Name............................................ Season

87 Michelle Nason................................ 1994-95

71 Michelle Nason................................ 1993-94

64 Heather Best.................................... 1998-99

60 Genny Mueller................................. 2003-04

58 Erika Grogg..................................... 1992-93

58 Dawn Cartwright.............................. 1995-96

56 Carolyn Hagerty.............................. 1994-95

54 Genny Mueller................................. 2004-05

54 Andrea McAllister............................. 1991-92

52 Erika Nelson.................................. 2006-07

First Half In The Books

Bradley's game against Southern Illinois (Jan. 11) marked the halfway point of the regular-season for the Braves, and Bradley finished the first-half of the year with a 5-10 mark. The Braves currently have a 2-2 record in the second half of the regular-season and have 10 regular-season games remaining on the schedule before the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference tournament (March 8-11). Bradley has posted a 5-8 record in the second half of the regular season in five of Paula Buscher's six seasons on The Hilltop, but play six of the next 10 games at home and have a chance to have its best second half since going 8-5 in 2002-03. Below is a year-by-year comparison of the Braves record in the first-half and second-half of the regular season under head coach Paula Buscher. Please note that the numbers will not add up as the final record includes games in the State Farm MVC Tournament.

Year 1st Half 2nd Half Final Record

2006-07 5-10 2-2 ????

2005-06 4-10 5-8 9-19

2004-05 10-4 5-8 15-13

2003-04 4-10 5-8 9-19

2002-03 5-9 8-5 13-15

2001-02 11-3 5-8 16-12

2000-01 5-8 5-8 10-17

Trio Now In Century Club, Peters Nearing 100 Games Played

Senior guard Erika Nelson joined Jen Brown and Ashley Chelleen in the century club, appearing in her 100th game as a Brave at Wichita State (Jan. 19). Chelleen became the 21st player in school history to play in 100 games, reaching the mark on Dec. 29, while Brown joined the group Jan. 13 against Evansville. Genny Mueller and Dena Williams both share the school mark for games played at 112, but with at least 11 games remaining on the schedule, Chelleen, Brown and Nelson all have a chance to eclipse the mark. Chelleen has appeared in 107 games to rank tied for 11th in school history, while Brown has played in 103 contests. Nelson is right behind her with 102 games played and senior Amy Peters will soon join the trio, with Sunday's game against Illinois State possibly being the 100th game she has seen action in.

Peters' Streak Comes To An End

Senior center Amy Peters had her streak of 24 consecutive free throw made snapped at Creighton (Jan. 6) when she missed her first attempt from the line against the Bluejays. Peters, who is shooting 90.2 percent from the line this season, made her first 24 attempts of the year and is now 37-of-41 from the line in 2006-07. Her 24 consecutive free throws made is the longest streak for a Brave since Genny Mueller converted 33 consecutive free throws between the end of the 2001-02 season and beginning of the 2002-03 campaign.

0-2, Nothing New

Bradley's 0-2 start to Missouri Valley Conference play was nothing new for the Braves. Bradley has opened league play with a pair of losses for the second straight year and the ninth time in the last 10 seasons. The lone exception during that time is the 2004-05 season, when the Braves opened Valley play with a 1-1 record. In addition Bradley opened Valley play 1-3 for the third time in the last five season and has opened league action 1-3 or worse eight times in the last 10 years counting this season. Bradley has opened Valley play with a 2-2 mark just twice (2001-02 & 2004-05) since a 3-1 start to the 1996-97 campaign.

Bradley, The Opening Opponent Of Choice

The Bradley women's basketball team was the first MVC women's basketball squad to visit the McLeod Center, but the Braves weren't the first BU team to visit the facility which opened in November. The Bradley volleyball team was the first opponent of any kind to play at the McLeod Center, losing to the Panthers in the first athletic event held in the facility in November. The Bradley men's basketball was the first MVC men's basketball team to play at the McLeod Center, last week. Unfortunately for Bradley fans, Northern Iowa swept the three contests, completing the sweep with a 74-47 victory against the women's basketball team last week.

Conference Openers

Bradley opened Missouri Valley Conference play on the road for the first time since the 2003-04 season, but the Braves were unable to end their losing streak in Valley openers, falling 47-74 at Northern Iowa. Bradley has lost 10 consecutive league openers, dating back to an 83-53 victory against Evansville on Dec. 29, 1996. Bradley is 8-16 in conference openers, including 0-7 under head coach Paula Buscher, and 3-9 mark when opening league play on the road. The Braves are now 3-1 when opening conference play against Northern Iowa, including a 2-1 record when opening league play in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Road Weary

For the first time in program history Bradley opened Missouri Valley Conference play with three consecutive road games. The Braves played six of their 11 non-conference games away from home and began MVC play with five of the first seven league games on the road, giving Bradley 11 of its first 18 games away from Robertson Memorial Field House. The Braves, who are just 2-8 on the road after defeating Drake on Jan. 8, ended a nine-game losing skid against the Bulldogs. Bradley will close the season with seven of the final 11 games at Robertson Memorial Field House.

Braves Wrap Up Non-Conference Play

Bradley is 35-29 (.547) in non-conference games under head coach Paula Buscher. Since the Braves began playing a round-robin conference schedule in 1983-84, Bradley has posted a 117-96 (.549) record in non-conference games. The Braves are 17-10 (.630) in non-conference home games under Buscher. Only Lisa Boyer owned a better non-conference home winning percentage at Bradley with a 22-8 (.733) record from 1986-96. The Braves are 56-30 (.651) at home against non-conference foes since the start of the 1983-84 campaign.

Up Next

Bradley will begin the second half of Missouri Valley Conference play Thursday, Feb. 1, against Creighton. Thursday's meeting will be the 34th between the two programs and Creighton enters with a 29-4 lead in the all-time series. The Braves are 1-15 at home against the Bluejays all-time with the lone victory coming in Creighton's first-ever trip to Peoria on Dec. 2, 1989. Creighton has won 15 consecutive road games in the series.

Nelson Ties Field House Record For Three-Pointers

Senior guard Erika Nelson tied a Robertson Memorial Field House record with seven three-point field goals against Northern Illinois (Dec. 17). Nelson, who hit 7-of-11 three-point attempts, is the fourth Bradley player and sixth person to connect on seven three-pointers in a game at the Field House and finished with a career-high 25 points against the Huskies. She joined former Braves Genny Mueller, Michelle Nason and Nancy Zoros, along with Evansville's Alissa Kirby and Creighton's Missy Miller as the only players to hit seven three-pointers in a game at the Field House. Nelson's seven three-point baskets is tied for the second best single-game total in school history, behind Andrea McAllister's school mark of eight three-pointers set during the 1989-90 season.

Three-Pointers (Robertson Field House Single Game Mark)

3-FG Name (Team)...................................... Date

7 Erika Nelson (Bradley).................. 12/17/06

7 Genny Mueller (Bradley)..................... 3/6/04

7 Alissa Kirby (Evansville)..................... 2/2/04

7 Michelle Nason (Bradley)................... 1/26/95

7 Missy Miller (Creighton)...................... 1/7/93

7 Nancy Zoros (Bradley)...................... 2/13/88

Deadly Accurate From The Line

For the season, Bradley is shooting 73.7 percent from the charity stripe as a squad. The team record for free throw percentage was set during the 1993-94 season when the Braves shot 75.1 percent from the line as a team, and have just seven seasons on record shooting better than 70 percent from the free throw line as a team. Bradley shot 92.9 percent from the free throw line in the loss at Illinois-Chicago on Dec. 15, hitting 13-of-14 free throw attempts. The Braves 92.9 free throw percentage in the game against the Flames, ranks as the seventh best effort in school history and marks the best team free throw percentage in a contest since making 15-of-16 free throw attempts against Evansville on Feb. 2, 2004. Three players currently rank among the school's career leaders in free throw percentage with senior Erika Nelson leading the way with a 76.6 career free throw percentage.

BU Career Free Throw Percentage

FG% Name (Years)................................. FT-FTA

.870 Genny Mueller (2001-05)................... 235-270

.841 Carolyn Hagerty (1993-95)................ 143-170

.787 Carol Baresch (1986-89, 90-91).......... 300-381

.769 Liza Reed (1991-95)......................... 120-156

.766 Erika Nelson (2003-present)............ 157-205

.761 Amy Peters (2003-present).............. 134-176

.7562 Heather Best (1995-99)...................... 276-365

.749 Ashley Chelleen (2002-present)...... 176-235

.735 Jenn Jolley (1997-01)....................... 253-344

.721 Carrie Coffman (1991-95).................. 199-276

.720 Sara Bailey (1999-2003).................... 191-270

Double Trouble

Sophomore Kelly Krumwiede posted her sixth double-double of the season with a 10-point, 13-rebound effort at Drake on Jan. 8 and is currently third in the MVC with six double-doubles this season. Her six

double-doubles are the most by a Brave since Dena Williams posted eight double-doubles in 2004-05. Krumwiede ranks third on the team in scoring at 9.8 points per game and leads the team in rebounding (7.2 per game) and field goal percentage (.490). She has scored in double figures 10 times this season and has seven outings with 10 or more rebounds in 2006-07.

10+ Rebound Games (Season)

No. Name............................................ Season

19 Carrie Coffman................................ 1994-95

14 Roxanne Grabow............................ 1982-83

13 Eileen Yerkes.................................. 1991-92

11 Dena Williams.................................. 2004-05

11 Dena Williams.................................. 2003-04

11 Val Wancket.................................... 1990-91

11 Roxanne Grabow............................ 1981-82

10 Val Wancket.................................... 1988-89

8 Sheila Jenkins................................. 1989-90

7 Kelly Krumwiede........................... 2006-07

7 Karin Nichols................................... 1988-89

7 Lora Weber..................................... 2000-01

7 Felicia Brown.................................. 1984-85

Finding The Range

Senior Erika Nelson has connected on a team and career-high 52 three-pointers after 19 games and has already more than doubled her career total for made three-pointers from her first three seasons. Nelson entered the season with 24 made three-pointers and had a career three-point field goal percentage of 33.8 percent (24-for-71), but has made 52 of 125 three-point attempts this season (41.6 percent) to raise her career three-point shooting percentage to 38.8 percent.

Bradley Faces Final In-State Foe Sunday

Bradley will play its ninth different instate opponent Sunday when the Braves play at Illinois State. Bradley wrapped up its non-conference schedule with four consecutive games against team's from the state of Illinois, losing 41-57 to Big Ten Conference foe Illinois on Dec. 21. Illinois was the seventh and final instate non-conference opponent. Adding in the MVC games against Southern Illinois and Illinois State, the Braves will play a total of nine opponents and 11 games against teams that hail from the Prairie State. Bradley is 3-5 against instate foes this season and own a 32-21 (.604) against instate Division I opponents under seventh-year head coach Paula Buscher. In fact the Braves have finished .500 or better against those opponents in all but one season (2003-04 - 3-5 record) since the start of the 2000-01 campaign.

Krumwiede Named Scholar-Athlete of the Week

Sophomore Kelly Krumwiede was named the Prairie Farms/Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete of the week for the week of Dec. 7. A business management and administration major, she owns a 3.76 cumulative grade point average and posted a pair of double-doubles during the previous week's action, averaging 15.0 points and 10 rebounds per game, while shooting 54.5 percent (12-for-22) from the field as she helped Bradley to a 1-1 record. Krumwiede opened the week with a 10-point, 10-rebound effort in the Braves loss at Valparaiso. Krumwiede had arguably her best outing of the year in Bradley's victory against Loyola, posting 20 points on 9-of-14 shooting and also added 10 rebounds, one assist and one blocked shot.

Peters Joins Chelleen In Top 25

Senior Amy Peters joined Ashley Chelleen in Bradley's top 25 in scoring with her 11-points effort against Evansville on Jan. 13 and is one of five active players climbing the Braves career scoring chart. Peters currently ranks 25th behind Tammy Van Oppen with 746 points, while Chelleen is the team's active career scoring leader and is 23rd all-time with 766 points. Chelleen needs 28 points to become the 21st player to score 800 points. Fellow seniors Jen Brown and Erika Nelson are both tied for 29th with 669 points, while junior Devyn Flanagan is 31st in scoring at 665 points. With a minimum of 11 games remaining in the season, four of the five players are on pace to finish the season with over 800 career points. Below is a look at the Braves all-time leading scorers. The numbers in parenthesis () is the point total the active individuals are on pace to finish the season.

Bradley's Career Scoring Leaders

Rank Name (Years).......................... Total Points

1. Karen Anderson (1979-83).................... 1,679

2. Shelli Braud (1984-88).......................... 1,605

3. Connie Griffith (1977-81)....................... 1,583

4. Judy Burns (1981-84).......................... 1,544

5. Sara Bailey (1999-03).......................... 1,541

6. Karin Nicholls (1986-90)....................... 1,461

7. Heather Best (1995-99)......................... 1,447

8. Carrie Coffman (1991-95)...................... 1,313

9. Genny Mueller (2001-05)...................... 1,269

10. Eileen Yerkes (1988-92)....................... 1,120

11. Val Wancket (1987-91)......................... 1,048

12. Dena Williams (2001-05)....................... 1,030

13. Carol Baresch (1986-89)....................... 1,018

14. Andrea McAllister (1988-92)..................... 980

15. Jenn Jolley (1997-01)............................. 920

16. Roxanne Grabow (1979-83).................... 836

T17. Maureen Hogan (1978-82)....................... 831

T17. Michelle Nason (1993-95)........................ 831

19. Erika Grogg (1990-94)............................. 816

20. Kathy Stokes (1977-81)........................... 802

21. Karen Richardson (1979-81).................... 798

22. Audrey DeClue (1984-88)........................ 784

23. Ashley Chelleen (2002-present).... 772 (854)

24. Tammy Van Oppen (1995-97).................. 763

25. Amy Peters (2003-present)............ 746 (850)

26. Heidi Nelson (1987-91)............................ 705

27. Liza Reed (1991-95)............................... 699

T28. Jen Brown (2003-present)............. 669 (729)

T28. Erika Nelson (2003-present).......... 669 (821)

30. Dawn Cartwright (1992-96)...................... 666

31. Devyn Flanagan (2004-present)..... 665 (805)

32. Carolyn Hagerty (1993-95)...................... 653

Texas Two-Step

Bradley is 3-3 all-time in games played in the state of Texas after going 1-1 and finishing third at the Hoops for the Cure Classic. The Braves have played in in-season tournaments at Rice in 1990-91 and again in 1995-96, going 1-1 each time, before this year's trip to Dallas, Texas. Bradley is 1-3 against teams from the state of Texas, having defeated Texas Southern during a tournament in Pullman, Wash., in the 1992-93 season and going 0-2 against Rice, in addition to this season's loss at SMU.

In-Season Tournaments

Bradley is 7-7 in in-season tournaments under head coach Paula Buscher and has finished second or better in four of the seven tournaments during her tenure. The Braves are 22-23 during in-season tournaments since the start of 1985-86 season, including a 17-13 mark since 1993-94. Bradley has finished second or better in seven of 15 tournaments since the beginning of 1993-94 campaign.

Krumwiede Collects All-Tournament Honors

Sophomore Kelly Krumwiede was named to the all-tournament team at the Hoops for the Cure Classic in Dallas, Texas, helping the Braves to a 1-1 record, averaging 10.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game in the two games.

Chelleen Moves Into Sixth On Blocks List

Senior Ashley Chelleen posted a career-best four block shots last outing and enters Sunday's game at Illinois State sixth on Bradley's career blocked shot list. Chelleen has turned back 73 shots during her time on The Hilltop and is currently 13 blocks behind Tami Van Galder for fifth place.

Bradley's Career Blocked Shots Leaders

Rank Name (Years)......................... Total Blocks

1. Dena Williams (2001-05).......................... 197

2. Heather Best (1995-99)............................ 153

3. Krisha Green (1993-97)........................... 106

4. Eileen Yerkes (1988-92).......................... 105

5. Tami Van Galder (1991-95)....................... 86

6. Ashley Chelleen (2002-present).............. 73

7. Karin Nicholls (1986-90)............................ 53

Returners Continue to Shine

Bradley's six returning players stole the show for the Braves in the team's season-opening victory against Chicago State and have continued to shine. Despite a roster that features six newcomers and just six returning letterwinners, Bradley received all 67 points in its win against the Cougars from the six returning players. The group also combined for 40 of Bradley's 49 rebounds, all 11 steals and 16 of the team's 18 assists. On the season, Bradley's newcomers have combined for 126 points (6.6 points per game) or 10.2 percent of the offense and 127 rebounds (17.6 percent).

Live Audio

Audio for all of Bradley's home and away games will be available on the Bradley Athletics website at www.bubraves.com

In previous seasons only home and select road contests were available on the Braves website, but audio for all 29 regular-season games will be available free of charge via the internet.

Bradley also has a pay-per-view video stream available for all home games at www.bubraves.tv

Chelleen & Peters On FG% List

Seniors Ashley Chelleen and Amy Peters both rank as two of the most accurate shooters in school history as both rank among the Braves career top 12 in field goal percentage. Chelleen entered the year second in career field goal percentage but has made 53-of-124 shots (42.7 percent) to open the season and has slipped into fourth place at 51.2 percent. Peters is shooting 40.2 percent from the field this season and is currently 12th all-time in shooting accuracy at 45.3 percent.

BU Career Field Goal Percentage

FG% Name (Years)................................ FG-FGA

.563 Roxanne Grabow (1979-83).............. 311-552

.531 Kim Harris (1984-86)......................... 245-461

.523 Tami Van Galder (1991-95)................ 218-417

.512 Ashley Chelleen (2002-present)...... 295-576

.512 Audrey DeClue (1984-88).................. 301-587

.506 Connie Griffith (1977-81).................. 636-1257

.495 Krisha Green (1993-97)..................... 240-425

.490 Carrie Coffman (1991-95)................. 552-1127

.481 Sheila Jenkins (1989-91)................... 273-567

.477 Karen Richardson (1979-81).............. 335-702

.473 Kathy Stokes (1977-81)..................... 337-712

.453 Amy Peters (2003-present).............. 286-631

Brown Bombing From Long Range

In addition to ranking among Bradley's career assist leaders, senior Jen Brown also ranks as one of the school's top three-point threats. Brown passed former teammate Va'Nicia Waterman for 10th place in school history against Loyola (Dec. 3) and is now alone in ninth place with 91 career trey's. Brown, who has averaged 25.3 three-pointers per season, could become just the eighth player to make 100 three-pointers in a career, needing nine trey's. Senior Erika Nelson is nearing the top, owning 76 career three-pointers, while junior Devyn Flanagan has made 68 trey's in her career.

BU Career Three-Pointers Made

Rank Name (Years).............................. 3-Pt. FGs

1. Genny Mueller (2001-05)......................... 182

2. Michelle Nason (1993-95)........................ 158

3. Heather Best (1995-99)............................ 154

4. Andrea McAllister (1988-92)..................... 148

5. Erika Grogg (1990-94)............................. 112

6. Dawn Cartwright (1992-96)...................... 110

7. Dana Anderson (1994-98)........................ 104

8. Sara Bailey (1999-03)............................... 99

9. Jen Brown (2003-present)...................... 91

10. Jennifer Jolley (1997-01)........................... 85