PEORIA, Ill. ? Bradley's early season offensive struggles continued as the Braves shot 33.3 percent from the field and scored just 46 points in a 56-46 loss to Butler Tuesday night in non-conference women's basketball action in the Braves home opener at Robertson Memorial Field House. Bradley fell behind by as many as 18 points, before cutting the deficit to seven points with less than two minutes remaining. The Braves were unable to cut any further into the Bulldog lead, however, and fell to 0-2 on the season with the loss.

The Braves missed their first seven shots to start the game, but would trail just 15-14 with 9:09 left in the half after a Megan Klingler (Lawrence, Kan./Lawrence/Coffeyville) jumper. Bradley would go cold from the field again, however, going scoreless over the next five and a half minutes as Butler went on a 9-0 run to take a 24-14 lead with just under four minutes before the break. Senior Devyn Flanagan (Riverton, Ill./Riverton) hit back-to-back baskets to spark an 8-2 BU spurt to help Bradley head into the locker room trailing 28-22.

Bradley struggled from the field in the early going of the second half, hitting just one of its first 10 shots as Butler opened the half with a 12-2 run to take a 40-24 lead with just under 13 minutes to play. The Bulldogs extended their lead to as many as 18 points before the Braves made a late push. Bradley had pulled back to within 10 points at 52-42 when Flanagan had a steal at midcourt and completed a three-point play to make it a seven-point contest (52-45) with 1:48 remaining.

After a near Bradley steal in the backcourt, Butler's Candace Jones made a pair of free throws with 1:34 on the clock to make it 54-45 in favor of the Bulldogs. With Butler leading 54-46 after Flanagan split a pair of free throws, Jones would make a pair of free throws with 39.7 seconds to help seal the victory for the Bulldogs. Jones scored 10 of the final 12 points for Butler over the final nine minutes of regulation.

Flanagan tied for game-high honors with 13 points and passed Tammy Van Oppen for 27th on the Braves career scoring list. Sophomore Sky Johnson (Olympia Fields, Ill./Marian Catholic) added 11 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals before fouling out, while sophomore Jenny Van Kirk (Waconia/Waconia) netted a career-high eight points and five rebounds off the bench. Bradley opened the season with back-to-back losses for the first time since the 2003-04 season, which is also the last year the Braves opened a season on the road.

Butler (2-0) had three players score in double figures, paced by junior Lade Akande's 13 points. Akande hit 6-of-9 shots in 19 minutes, but missed the final 18:35 of the contest after suffering an injury. Jones and Susan Lester each added 12 points each to help lead Butler, which shot 42.6 percent from the field for the game. The Bulldogs picked up their second straight victory to open the season, marking the first time Butler has opened a season 2-0 since the 1992-93 campaign.

Bradley closes out a two-game homestand Saturday with a 2:05 p.m. against Illinois-Chicago. Saturday's contest will be the second of six free popcorn matinees. In addition anyone purchasing a ticket for the game against UIC will receive free admission to Sunday's men's basketball game against Maryland-Eastern Shore at 2:05 p.m. at Carver Arena.