PEORIA, Ill. -- Bradley nearly erased a 16-point deficit, pulling within two points at 60-58 in the closing minutes of the team's Missouri Valley Conference home opener, but the Braves missed five shots down the stretch as the Shockers held on to edge BU 62-58 Thursday at Renaissance Coliseum.

The loss snapped a three-game home win streak for the Braves (6-8 overall, 0-3 MVC), who had played just two home games in the month of December. 

Wichita State (8-6 overall, 2-0 MVC) got off the a strong start, making its first eight shots and jumped out to 24-9 advantage midway through the first half.  Senior Brooke Bisping (Morton, Ill./Morton) helped fuel a 15-5 Bradley run with six points as the Braves pulled within five points (29-24) in the closing stages of the first half and trailed 34-27 at halftime.

A 9-0 Shocker run early in the second half pushed the Wichita State lead back to double digits (47-31) with just under 15 minutes to play before Bradley would rally. 

Junior Kelsey Budd (Prairie du Sac, Wis./Sauk Prairie) scored seven of her game-high 18 points during a 13-4 BU spurt, which pulled her team within seven points (51-44) midway through the period.

A Kelly Frings (Milwaukee, Wis./Pius XI) basket with 7:14 to play cut the Shocker advantage to 55-51 and a pair of Budd free throws with five minutes remaining made it a one-possession game (58-56) for the first time since the opening minute of the contest

Wichita State's lead stood at 60-58 with 2:25 to play following a Jenny Smith (Pewaukee, Wis./Arrowhead) jumper from the free throw line, but the Shockers answered with a Kelsey Jacobs layup to make it a two-possession game (62-58) nearing the two-minute mark. 

A Bradley three-pointer on the next trip down the floor was off the mark and the Braves followed a Bisping steal with four missed shots in the final 43 seconds of play as the Shockers extended their road win streak to three games with the 62-58 road win.

Budd led all players with 18 points and was one of three Braves to score in double figures.  Bisping returned to the starting lineup after coming off the bench in the last nine games to collect 10 points, two assists and three steals.  Frings added 10 points and a game-high eight rebounds off the bench.

Jacobs and Jessica Diamond led Wichita State in scoring with 14 points each.  Chynna Turner added 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting.

Bradley continues a season-long, three-game home stand Saturday with a 2 p.m. game against defending Missouri Valley Conference regular-season champion Missouri State at Renaissance Coliseum.