PEORIA, Ill. -- Defending Mid-American Conference champion Bowling Green jumped out to an early 15-2 lead and the Falcons held Bradley to just 47 points as the Braves fell 61-47 Sunday afternoon at Renaissance Coliseum.

Bradley, which was down to nine players due to injuries, was dealt another blow before the game started with senior Michelle Young (Woodbury, Minn./Woodbury) forced out of the starting lineup due to illness.  Young came off the bench, however, to tie for game-high honors with 15 points as she passed Amy Peters for 22nd on Bradley's career scoring list.

Rachel Konieczki helped Bowling Green jump out to an early 15-2 advantage less than six minutes into the contest, collecting six points and a pair of assists during the Falcons' opening spurt.  Bowling Green had a 20-9 rebounding advantage in the first half and led 39-23 at the break.

The Braves turned in one of their strongest defensive efforts of the year in the second half and held Bowling Green to just 22 points on 38.1 percent shooting over the final 20 minutes.  The Falcons held a 54-32 lead with 13:25 to play when Bradley picked up the defensive pressure.  Bradley held Bowling Green without a field goal for over five minutes and just two field goals the remainder of the game.

Bowling Green was able to equal Bradley's defensive efforts, however, as the Braves went eight and a half minutes without a field goal before a Sameia Kendall (Kansas City, Kan./Raytown/Johnson County) three-pointer with 5:16 to play cut the Falcons' lead to 58-40.  Bradley outscored Bowling Green 15-7 over the final 13 minutes of the contest as the Braves had just two field goals after Bowling Green led by 22 with 13:25 to play. 

In fact, the teams combined for just three field goals during that 13-minute span to finish the contest with Bowling Green earning the 61-47 road win in the first meeting between the two programs.

Young was 5-for-6 from the free throw line and added one assist, two blocks and three steals in the setback.  Sophomore Whitney Tinjum (Stacy, Minn./Chisago Lakes/Washington State) was in double figures for the second straight game, tying Young for game-high honors with 15 points in addition to pulling down a career-best 11 rebounds for her first career double-double. 

Konieczki led three Biowling Green players in double figures with 12 points.  Deborah Hoekstra and Abby Siefker each added 11 points for the Falcons.

Bradley shot 30.2 percent from the field, but forced 23 turnovers for Bowling Green, which entered the game averaging just 14 turnovers per game. 

The Braves close out the non-conference portion of the schedule, Tuesday, Dec. 30 with a 7 p.m. game against Northern Illinois at Renaissance Coliseum.