Box Score DES MOINES, Iowa - Junior Sonya Harris hit a 30-foot buzzer-beater to give Bradley a 61-58 come from behind victory against Drake Sunday at the Knapp Center. The Braves (9-8 overall, 5-2 MVC) trailed by as many as eight points, but closed the game with a 9-2 run to rally for its fifth consecutive victory.
In a game which went back and forth and featured runs by both team, Bradley trailed 56-52 with 4:07 to play before making a late push. Junior Raisa Taylor (Decatur, Ill./Eisenhower) made a layup with 3:45 left and freshman Brooke Bisping (Morton, Ill./Morton) tied things at 56-56 with a bucket with 2:14 on the clock.
Senior Renee Frericks (Wyoming, Minn./Forest Lake) gave Bradley its first lead (58-56) since the 7:59 mark with a layup with 1:41 remaining, but Drake's Rachael Hackbarth answered with a an offensive rebound and basket to tie the score at 58-58.
Bradley and Drake (11-7 overall, 4-4 MVC) both came up empty on their next two possessions and the Braves had the ball with 1.3 seconds left after a Bulldog turnover. Having to go the length of the floor, Bisping inbounded to Harris just beyond half court and she banked in a three-pointer from 30 feet as time expired to give Bradley the 61-58 win.
"That wasn't the way the play was drawn up, but we are certainly happy with the result" head coach Paula Buscher said. "Sonya did a great job of recognizing the fact she was going to have to shoot. On the road you just have to give yourself a chance, and I'm happy with the way our team fought back and pulled out the win."
Bradley led 31-29 at the half, but Drake opened the second half with an 11-2 run to build a 40-33 lead. The Bulldogs led by as many as eight points (47-39) in the second half before the Braves rallied for the win. The victory gave BU a sweep of the Creighton-Drake road swing for the first time in program history and moved the Braves into sole possession of third-place in the MVC standings.
Taylor matched a season-high with 20 points to lead all scorers. Harris made 5-of-7 from the field and finished with 11 points off the bench. Bradley shot 42.9 percent from the field and outrebounded the Bulldogs 39-31.
Bradley held Drake to 32.1 percent shooting in the game and forced 14 second-half Bulldog turnovers. Hackbarth and Amber Wollschlager paced Drake in scoring with 14 points.
Bradley returns to action Thursday when the Braves play host to Indiana State at 7:05 p.m. at Lorene Ramsey Gym.
