Box Score PEORIA, Ill. -- Junior Sonya Harris (Riverdale, Ill./Thornton) had a double-double (15 points and 13 rebounds) and helped Bradley to a 46-44 advantage in rebounding, but Northern Illinois posted a 28-10 edge in second chance points and topped the Braves 86-73 in the season opener for both squads.
Bradley made 6-of-12 three-pointers in the first half and led by as many as six in the opening 20 minutes of play before NIU scored the final 10 points of the half to take a 42-38 lead into the break.
Harris scored Bradley's first six points of the second half as she collected 11 points and 11 rebounds in the final 20 minutes of action. The Braves hung close to the Huskies in the early going of the second half and eventually pulled even at 60-60. With the score knotted at 65-65 with just under seven minutes remaining, NIU's Ebony Ellis had a layup and putback basket after a BU turnover to spark a 13-2 Huskies run.
Ellis scored six of her game-high 22 points to highlight the spurt which put NIU in front 78-67. Bradley trimmed the deficit to seven points (80-73) with 1:17 to play on baskets by Harris and freshman Katie Yohn (Elgin, Ill./St. Edward), but the Braves would get no closer as NIU posted an 85-73 win.
Bradley shot 50 percent in the opening half of play, before cooling off in the second half (41.2 percent) and finished the game shooting 45.2 percent from the floor. Northern Illinois capitalized on 25 BU turnovers and owned a 27-16 in points off turnovers.
Harris was one of four Bradley players in double figures in scoring, finishing with 15 points on 7-for-12 shooting and also collected 13 rebounds for the 15th double-double of her career. Yohn scored a team-high 16 points and dished out a team-best five assists, while fellow freshman Olivia Allen (Kildeer, Ill./Lake Zurich) also added 15 points in 25 minutes of play. Junior Raisa Taylor (Decatur, Ill./Eisenhower) was also in double figures (12 points) to go along with six rebounds, four assists, two blocks and two steals.
In addition to capitalizing on BU's turnovers, Northern Illinois did the bulk of its damage on the offensive glass by hauling down 20 offensive boards. Ellis corralled 17 rebounds (nine offensive) to go along with her game-high 22 points. Marke Freeman added 21 points and three assists, while Mauvolyene Adams also had a double-double (18 points and 11 rebounds).
The Braves return to action Sunday, when they play host to Illinois-Chicago at 2:05 p.m. at Lorene Ramsey Gym in Bradley's home opener.
