PEORIA, Ill. -- Bradley will look to send seniors Latasha Hollingshed, Leah Kassing, Hanna Muegge, Lauren Niemiera and MacKenzie Westcott out on a high note as the group takes the court at Renaissance Coliseum for the final time when the Braves close out the home portion of the 2011-12 regular-season schedule Sunday with a 2 p.m. game against Creighton.
Bradley (14-13 overall, 5-10 MVC) had a season-long, four-game home win streak snapped Friday against Drake and will be looking for its third consecutive Senior Day victory after topping Indiana State 77-69 last year in the final home game of the 2010-11 season. The Braves have won on Senior Day three of the last four seasons and will face the Bluejays on Senior Day for the first time since 1997-98.
Creighton (16-11 overall, 10-6 MVC) has moved into fourth in the Valley standings and has won four consecutive games after posting a 74-48 win at Northern Iowa Friday night. The Bluejays have won 10 of their last 13 overall and bring a 7-6 road record into Sunday's contest. Creighton, which gives up a league-low 58.0 points per game, edged Bradley 72-68 last month in Omaha, Neb., in this year's first meeting.
BradleyBraves.com will feature a subscription video stream in addition to a free audio stream of Sunday's matchup with the Bluejays. The live stats link will also feature an interactive live chat. The first 300 fans at Sunday's game will receive a free rally towel.
Following Sunday's game, the seniors will be recognized in a post-game ceremony. During the last four years, the seniors have helped Bradley to the most wins in a four-year period since the 1982-83 senior class combined for 72 victories. In 2008-09, the Braves posted a school-record 21 wins and the 2009-10 season saw BU make the first post-season appearance in program history as the Braves reached the quarterfinals of the inaugural Women's Basketball Invitational.
Senior MacKenzie Westcott (Williamsburg, Iowa/Williamsburg) enters the final home game of her career fourth in career games played and will tie Raisa Taylor, Kelly Krumwiede and Ashley Chelleen for the most games played in school history at 119 Sunday. Westcott has averaged 9.5 points and 9.8 rebounds per game over the last six contests.
Fellow senior Leah Kassing (Mt. Sterling, Ill./Brown County) is also among Bradley's career leaders in games played and has scored more points this season (380 points) than she did in her first three collegiate seasons combined (379 points) after an 11-point effort Friday against Drake.
Sophomore guard Catie O'Leary (Janesville, Wis./Parker/Wisconsin) scored 18 points to lead Bradley in Friday's setback against Drake, while freshman guard Shronda Butts (Des Moines, Iowa/East) has moved back into the starting lineup the last two games and is averaging 15.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.0 steals per game in those contests.
The Braves close out the regular season with a pair of road games, playing at Wichita State (Thursday at 7 p.m.) and at Missouri State (Saturday at 7 p.m.). Both games will be broadcast on WIRL 1290 AM.
