PEORIA, Ill. -- Junior forward Vanessa Markert (Mt. Sterling, Ill./Brown County) has been named the Bradley COUNTRY Financial Scholar-Athlete of the Week after scoring a season-best 24 points in last week's game against Cleveland State. 

Markert scored a season-high 24 points on 10-for-14 shooting as she helped highlight Bradley Women's Basketball's rally attempt against Cleveland State.  She added eight rebounds, one assist and two blocks against the Vikings.  With Bradley trailing by 14 points early in the second half, Markert scored 10 of Bradley's next 11 points to highlight an 11-2 run which would pull the Braves within two points with 4:25 to play.  Markert tallied 18 of her 24 points in the second half and also added seven boards and two blocks in the final 20 minutes.  A business management and leadership major, Markert owns a 3.62 cumulative grade point average.   

Each week, a Bradley student-athlete is selected as the COUNTRY Financial Scholar-Athlete of the Week.  The individual chosen must be at least a sophomore in class standing and boast a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average, while displaying a level of athletic excellence.

Markert and the Bradley women's basketball team close out the non-conference portion of the schedule Thursday with a 7 p.m. home game against Western Illinois at Renaissance Coliseum.