PEORIA, Ill. -- Saturday's 2 p.m. women's basketball home game against in-state foe Southern Illinois will be CEFCU Family Fun Day at Renaissance Coliseum.
Fans will receive one free youth ticket with the purchase of an adult ticket and kids will be able to take part in poster making, face painting and play on inflatables prior to the game against the Salukis. Rally towels will be handed out to the first 250 fans and a post-game ice cream social with the Braves will take place following the contest (game ticket required for post-game social).
Bradley (12-10 overall, 3-7 MVC) never trailed in Thursday's 82-64 victory against Evansville and the Braves have won back-to-back home games entering Saturday's matchup with SIU. Junior Katie Yohn (Elgin, Ill./St. Edward) made 4-of-9 three-pointers and finished with a game-high 18 points to pace three BU players in double figures against the Purple Aces.
Southern Illinois (6-15 overall, 2-8 MVC) has won three of its last five games, but dropped a 73-51 decision at defending Missouri Valley Conference regular-season champion Northern Iowa Thursday. The Salukis boast two of the top four scorers in the Valley this season, with junior guard Teri Oliver leading the MVC in three-point makes (3.1 per game) and ranking third in the league in scoring (17.6 ppg).
While the Salukis own a 41-20 lead in the all-time series, Bradley has won seven consecutive games against SIU and nine of the last 10 matchups. BU has won six of the last seven home games against Southern Illinois and eight of the last 10 overall played in Peoria. The Braves are 18-6 against the Salukis under head coach Paula Buscher.
BradleyBraves.com will feature video (subscription) and audio (free) streams of Saturday's game, in addition to live stats with an interactive live chat.
Thursday's 82 points by Bradley were the most for the Braves against a Missouri Valley Conference foe since topping Drake 87-80 in double overtime on Feb. 21, 2009 and the most in a regulation game against a league opponent since defeating Wichita State 88-77 on Feb. 17, 2007.
Yohn, who ranks eighth in the nation in three-point field goal percentage through games of Feb. 2 at 43.5 percent, made her 50th three-pointer of the year against Evansville Thursday and is the first player in program history to hit 50 three-pointers in three different seasons. She enters Saturday's matchup with 969 points, needing 12 points to pass Andrea McAllister (980 points) for 16th on Bradley's career scoring chart.
Senior MacKenzie Westcott (Williamsburg, Iowa/Williamsburg) pulled down a career-best and Renaissance Coliseum record 15 boards Thursday night vs. the Purple Aces. Westcott has had 10 or more rebounds in four of the last eight games and is averaging 8.6 boards per game during that stretch. BU's active career leader in rebounding, Westcott needs two rebounds to reach 500 in her career.
Following Saturday's game, the Braves return to action Friday, Feb. 10 at Indiana State (6 p.m. CST).
