NORMAL, Ill. -- Bradley continued its solid defensive play, limiting Illinois State to its lowest point total of the season, but the Braves struggled offensively, as the Redbirds posted a 55-47 victory over Bradley, Sunday afternoon at Redbird Arena in the first matchup of the season in the I-74 rivalry.

The Braves (7-13 overall, 3-6 MVC) rallied from a 10-point second-half deficit to take the lead midway through the second half, but Bradley struggled to get a basket in the closing minutes of the contest, allowing Illinois State to come away with a win in the first round of the I-74 rivalry 55-47. The 55 points is the lowest point total for Illinois State this season and fewest points scored by the Redbirds in almost a year.

The Braves took a 13-10 lead on a Devyn Flanagan basket with 9:26 to play, but Illinois State used a 9-0 spurt, that included four points from Kristi Cirone to take a 19-13 lead. Amy Peters ended a near five minute drought for Bradley with a jumper in the lane with 4:38 to play in the half and back-to-back three-pointers by Erika Nelson and Jen Brown pulled the Braves to within one point at 22-21 with 3:35 before the break. Illinois State scored the last four points of the half to take a 26-21 lead at the half.

Peters scored five points in the first 2:40 of play in the second half, hitting a three-pointer with 17:21 to play to pull the Braves even at 28-28. ISU responded with a 10-point spurt, capped by a Cirone three-point play that gave the Redbirds a 38-28 lead with 14:08 left.

Brown converted a three-point play and followed that with a three-pointer to spark an 11-0 BU run which was capped by a Peters' three-pointer with 9:13 to play that put the Braves ahead 39-38.

Bradley led 41-40 when Illinois State went on an 8-0 run capped by a Cirone three-pointer as the Redbirds took a 48-41 lead with 5:38 to play. The Braves ended a drought that lasted 5:20 when freshman Jenny Van Kirk's had a put back bucket with 3:12 to play cut the deficit to five points. An Ashley Chelleen jumper in the lane with 2:28 remaining pulled Bradley to within three points at 48-45.

After a pair of Cirone free throws, Chelleen made a pair from the line with 1:55 to play to keep it a three-point game at 50-47, but the Braves would go cold from the field missing their final five shots from the field, while Illinois State made 5-of-10 free throw attempts in the closing minutes to seal the 55-47 victory.

Bradley shot just 28.6 percent from the floor, including 26.3 percent (5-for-19) from beyond the three-point arc. Illinois State (16-4 overall, 9-0 MVC) wasn't much better offensively, shooting 35.7 percent from the floor and made just three of 17 three-point attempts.

Three Bradley players were in double figures, paced by Brown's 11 points. She also added a game-high four assists in 37 minutes of action. Chelleen finished with her second double-double of the year and fourth career double-double as she posted 10 points and season-high 12 boards to go along with two blocked shots off the bench. Peters was also in double figures with 10 points and added nine rebounds.

Cirone was the only Illinois State player in double figures in scoring, with a game-high 24 points. Junior Lashawn Johnson nearly added a double-double as she finished with nine points and 11 rebounds to help Illinois State to a 45-41 edge in rebounding.

Bradley returns to action Thursday when the Braves play host to Creighton at 7:05 p.m. at Robertson Memorial Field House.