PEORIA, Ill. ? League-leading Illinois State shot nearly 60 percent for the game, including 10-of-18 from beyond the arc, to down Bradley 94-61 in front of the second biggest home crowd in program history Sunday, in Missouri Valley Conference women's basketball action at Robertson Memorial Field House. Junior Monica Rogers (Forsyth, Ill./St. Teresa/Hampton) led the Braves with 18 points and seven rebounds off the bench.

Bradley (6-8 overall, 0-3 MVC) trailed 24-19 with 9:25 left in the first half after a Rogers' basket, when Illinois State used a 15-0 run to pull away from the Braves. Washington, Ill., native Maggie Krick scored five of her team-high 15 points and dished out an assist during the spurt that gave the Redbirds (14-1 overall, 4-0 MVC) a 39-19 lead with 5:37 remaining in the half.

Bradley opened the game hitting eight of its first 16 shots, but made just 3-of-14 shots from the field and committed five turnovers in the final nine minutes of the first half. Illinois State outscored the Braves 26-6 during that span and took a 50-25 lead into the break. ISU shot 61.8 percent in the first half (21-for-34) and committed just two turnovers, while Bradley shot 36.7 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes.

The Braves trimmed the Illinois State advantage to 20 points in the opening minutes of the second half, but Ashleen Bracey, Shala Jackson and Brea Banks each scored four points to highlight a 13-2 ISU run that extended the Redbird lead to 69-38. Bradley shot 45.5 percent from the field in the second half, but couldn't overcome 56.7 percent shooting by Illinois State after the half. The Redbirds ended Bradley's four-game home win streak with a 94-61 victory in the first meeting in the annual I-74 rivalry.

Rogers came off the bench to lead all players with 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting. She also tied for game-high honors with seven rebounds before suffering an injury with 7:30 to play. Senior Rachel Merriman (Peoria, Ill./Notre Dame/Illinois Central) and sophomore Jenny Van Kirk (Waconia, Minn./Waconia) each added eight points to highlight the Braves offensive efforts.

Krick and defending MVC Player of the Year Kristi Cirone led five Illinois State players in double figures with 15 points each. Nicolle Lewis added 12 points and tied for game-high honors with seven boards, while Jackson came off the bench to score 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting. Ashleen Bracey was also in double figures with 10 points.

The final meeting between Bradley and Illinois State at historic Robertson Memorial Field House drew 3,004 fans, which is the second largest home crowd in program history. The Braves attendance mark was set Jan. 6, 2002 when 3,128 fans witnessed BU's 71-36 victory against Illinois State.

Bradley continues its three-game homestand Thursday, when the Braves play host to Wichita State at 7:05 p.m. at Robertson Memorial Field House. The game against the Shockers will be one of five contests this season which will broadcast on WMBD 1470 AM.