Bradley (11-13 overall, 4-9 MVC) holds a half-game lead on Evansville (8-15 overall, 3-9 MVC) in the conference standings and can secure a third consecutive series sweep of the Purple Aces Thursday in the Braves' final trip to Roberts Stadium.  BU looks to snap a three-game losing skid after a home loss to Creighton Saturday, while UE is coming off a 59-45 road win at Southern Illinois and is trying to win consecutive games for the first time in conference play. 

Thursday's game will be the 35th meeting between Bradley and Evansville, with the Braves hold a 19-15 edge in the all-time series.  BU has won three consecutive games in the series, including a 65-58 win earlier this season at Renaissance Coliseum and Bradley is 5-1 in the last six meetings overall.  The Braves are 7-9 in road games in the series, which includes a 6-8 mark all-time at Roberts Stadium.

Southern Illinois (2-21 overall, 0-12 MVC) is three and a half games behind Bradley in the league standings heading into a Thursday night home game against league-leading Northern Iowa.  Like the Braves, the Salukis opened Valley play with seven of their first 11 conference games on the road and wrap up the regular-season with five of their final seven league games at home.

SIU holds a 41-18 lead in the all-time series, but the Braves are 18-14 in the last 32 meetings and own a 16-6 mark against the Salukis under head coach Paula Buscher.  Bradley is 8-2 in games played in Carbondale under Buscher.  The Braves have won five consecutive against SIU and are 7-1 in the last eight games vs. the Salukis.  Bradley posted an 80-44 win against SIU last month at Renaissance Coliseum.

Senior guard Raisa Taylor (Decatur, Ill./Eisenhower) has enjoyed the Evansville-Southern Illinois road swing during her career, averaging 13.8 points on 59.6 percent shooting to go along with 5.3 rebounds per game in her six previous road games against the Purple Aces and Salukis.  She scored a career-high 28 points at SIU as a freshman and needs just four points to move up two spots on Bradley's career scoring list. 

Sophomore guard Katie Yohn (Elgin, Ill./St. Edward) is coming off a 19-point effort against Creighton and has moved into ninth in career three-pointers at BU.  Currently ninth with 105 career trey's, she needs two to pass Devyn Flanagan for eight place and is eight triples from breaking into Bradley's career top five in the category.

WIRL (1290 AM) will carry Thursday's game against Evansville.  Audio streams for both games will be available at www.BradleyBraves.com

Following the road swing, Bradley returns home to close out the regular season with three consecutive home games.  The final homestand opens Friday, Feb. 25 with a 5:35 p.m. game against Northern Iowa.