PEORIA, Ill. ? Bradley shot a season-low 27.3 percent from the field and the Braves were outrebounded 47-27, while I-74 rival Illinois State shot 50 percent from the field to down BU 79-46 at Redbird Arena Sunday afternoon.  The Braves (9-13 overall, 3-8 MVC) made just 4-of-16 three-point attempts and shot 52.2 percent (12-for-23) in the loss.

Illinois State (19-3 overall, 9-2 MVC) entered the game averaging a league-low 13.5 turnovers per game, but Bradley's defense was able to force the Redbirds into nine turnovers in the first nine minutes of the tilt.  The Braves offense struggled in the early going, however, failing to make a field goal in the first five minutes of the contest as Bradley trailed by 11 points (21-10) midway through the first half. 

Sophomore Renee Frericks (Wyoming, Minn./Forest Lake) and freshman Raisa Taylor (Decatur, Ill./Eisenhower) hit back-to-back three-pointers to cut the Redbirds lead to 23-16 with 8:50 to play in the opening period.  The Braves trailed 25-18 with just over eight minutes before the break, when Illinois State sophomore Maggie Krick scored eight of her 16 first-half points to highlight a 20-4 Redbird run that extended ISU's lead to 45-22 at the half. 

The Braves made just two field goals in the final 8:50 of the half and were outrebounded by the Redbirds 25-11 in the first 20 minutes of play.  Bradley shot 29.2 percent from the field in the first half, compared to 50 percent shooting for Illinois State. 

Bradley heated up to open the second half, hitting 6-of-14 shots to open the period.  Illinois State connected on eight of 12 shots to start the second stanza and pushed the lead to 63-35 with just over 11 minutes to play.  The Braves would go without a field goal for a near nine-minute stretch as the Redbird lead ballooned to 77-36 with five minutes remaining. 

The Braves made just two of 17 shots to conclude the half en route to the 79-46 setback which snapped Bradley's two-game win streak.  Senior Devyn Flanagan (Riverton, Ill./Riverton) led BU in scoring with nine points and also had a career-high six steals.  Flanagan moved into a tie with Jenn Jolley for 16th on the Braves career scoring list with the nine-point effort.  Junior Kelly Krumwiede (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West) had a game-high 11 rebounds and also finished with seven points and three steals. 

Illinois State committed 26 turnovers in the contest, but the Redbirds shot 50 percent from the field, while connecting on 9-of-20 three-point attempts.  Krick scored two points in the second half and finished with a game-high 18 points to go along with team highs of eight rebounds and six assists.  Defending Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year Kristi Cirone added 11 points, three assists and four steals.  Sophomores Ashleen Bracey and Nicolle Lewis were also in double figures with 10 points each.

Bradley continues its season-long three-game road swing Thursday with a 7:05 p.m. game at Missouri State in Springfield, Mo.