Box Score EAST PEORIA, Ill. - Freshmen Olivia Allen (Kildeer, Ill./Lake Zurich) and Katie Yohn (Elgin, Ill./St. Edward) each scored six points to highlight an 18-5 Bradley run to open the second half and help the Braves post a 72-61 victory against Southern Illinois Saturday afternoon at Lorene Ramsey Gym. Junior Raisa Taylor (Decatur, Ill./Eisenhower) added a season-high 20 points and career-best 11 rebounds to help highlight the victory.
Southern Illinois (2-11 overall, 1-2 MVC) got off to a hot start, making 8-of-14 three-pointers in the first 20 minutes of play and held a 40-35 lead at the break. Bradley (6-8 overall, 2-2 MVC) limited the Salukis to just five points in the first nine minutes of the second half and used an 18-5 run to take a 53-45 lead midway through the period.
Allen had six points, one assist and one blocked shot during the run and Yohn added a three-point play and a three-pointer to highlight the Braves' run. Bradley maintained the lead and was up 62-58 with just under four minutes to play, when the Braves used a 10-0 run to put the game out of reach.
Senior Renee Frericks (Wyoming, Minn./Forest Lake) found fellow senior Jenny Van Kirk (Waconia, Minn./Waconia) wide open under the basket for a layup with 2:18 to play to open the run. Taylor followed with a three-point play and Bradley made 5-of-6 from the free throw line over the next minute of play to push the lead to 72-58.
Teri Oliver of Southern Illinois banked in a three-pointer from the wing with 35 seconds to play for just the second SIU field goal in the final seven minutes of the contest as the Braves picked up back-to-back victories for the second time this season. Bradley head coach Paula Buscher matched Lisa Boyer for the most wins in program history, picking up the 123rd victory as head coach of the Braves.
Bradley limited SIU to 25.9 percent shooting in the second half, including 1-for-4 from beyond the arc after the Salukis made 8-of-14 three-point attempts in the first half. The Braves shot 48.2 percent from the floor and outrebounded SIU 45-33. BU tied a season-low with 19 turnovers, which included seven turnovers after halftime.
Taylor paced Bradley in scoring with a season-high 20 points and collected a career-best 11 rebounds for her second career double-double. Both of Taylor's career double-doubles have come against Southern Illinois. Allen added 10 points off the bench on 5-of-7 shooting and Van Kirk was also in double figures with 10 points. Junior Sonya Harris (Riverdale, Ill./Thornton) recorded a season-high six blocked shots and also snagged seven boards off the bench.
Christine Presswood knocked down four three-pointers in the first half and scored 18 points in the opening 20 minutes of play. The Braves limited her to two second-half points as she paced SIU in scoring with 20 points. Teri Oliver also made four first-half three-pointers and had 14 points at halftime. Oliver's only points of the second half came in the final minute of the contest as she finished with 17 points. Three-time MVC Newcomer of the Week Stephany Neptune added 14 points, 13 rebounds and four assists for the Salukis.
Bradley closes out a season-long three-game homestand Friday, Jan. 15 against Northern Iowa at 7:05 p.m. at Lorene Ramsey Gym. The game against the Panthers will be televised in the Peoria area on WTVP Channel 47.
