Western Illinois WIU 10-4

Bradley BRAD 6-5

Western Illinois WIU

10-4

Final

Dec. 28, 2017

Bradley BRAD

6-5

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	3	4	F
Western Illinois WIU	31	11	13	25	80
Bradley BRAD	16	18	29	24	87

Box Score

Haack Powers Braves To 87-80 Win Over Western Illinois

Box Score

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | 12/28/2017 10:02:00 PM

PEORIA, Ill. – Freshman Gabi Haack's first career start was certainly a memorable one with the guard hitting eight three-pointer to tie the Bradley single-game record and she was one of two Braves to notch double-doubles in an 87-80 comeback victory over defending Summit League champion Western Illinois Thursday at Renaissance Coliseum.

Haack scored a season-best 26 points in her first career-start, making 8-of-12 from beyond the arc including her last seven three-point attempts. She matched the school single-game record of eight three-pointers shared by Renee Frericks (11/27/07 vs. Eastern Illinois) and Bradley head coach Andrea Gorski (1/27/90 at Western Illinois).

Bradley (6-5 overall) wrapped up its best non-conference record since 2012-13 in dramatic fashion, rallying from 18 points down for the largest comeback for the Braves in four years (Nov. 11, 2013 at SEMO - 18 points).

Post-game reaction from @BradleyWBB head coach Andrea Gorski after tonight's 87-80 victory over Western Illinois. pic.twitter.com/zJYSVOGPoS
— Bradley WBB (@BradleyWBB) December 29, 2017

Western Illinois (10-4 overall), which entered the game ranked 20th in the latest CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major poll and recently posted a 71-64 victory at then 18th-ranked Stanford, came into the game one of the best shooting teams in the country and got off to a hot start. The Leathernecks made 12-of-18 from the field in the first quarter, including 5-of-7 from three-point range, to build a 31-16 lead after the opening 10 minutes. WIU made its first two shots to open the second quarter to push the lead to 18 (37-19) before Bradley would make a run.

Senior Anneke Schlueter ended a three-minute scoring drought for Bradley with a pull-up jumper from the elbow and Haack followed a defensive stop with her only two-pointer of the contest. Freshman Jailynn Lawson found Schlueter for two more hoops as an 8-0 run by the Braves cut the deficit to 10. Haack added a three-pointer, her first of seven consecutive makes from long range, in the closing minutes to help Bradley pull within 42-34 at the half. After Western Illinois opened the game 14-for-20 from the field, the Braves held the Leathernecks to 2-for-15 shooting over the final nine minutes of the second quarter.

Haack took over in the third quarter as she highlighted a 29-point period for Bradley with 15 of her game-high 26 points. Western Illinois opened the third quarter with a three-pointer only to have Haack answer with the first of her five in the frame. Another Haack three-pointer sparked a 14-2 Bradley run which gave the Braves their first lead of the night at 51-49.

Junior Shunserre Kent followed with a three-pointer of her own and then assisted Haack's third three-pointer in the first 2:30 of the third as Bradley cut the WIU lead to one (47-46). Sophomore Chelsea Brackmann got free on the inside for a hoop on the heels of a WIU basket and her putback basket nearing the midway point of the third gave the Braves a 50-49 edge. Brackmann capped the run with a free throw with 4:34 to play in the third.

Western Illinois came into the contest averaging 83 points per game and ranked fifth in the nation in three-pointers per contest. The Leathernecks answered with a 6-0 spurt to go back in front 55-51 only to have Bradley score the final 12 points of the period in the last three minutes. Freshman Nyjah White started the run with a jumper in the lane and Haack knocked down another triple as Bradley retook the lead at 56-55. White had a fast break layup and Haack's fifth three-pointer of the third made it a six-point cushion (61-55) for the Braves. White added a hoop in the final minute as Bradley led 63-55 heading to the fourth. Bradley shot 64.7 percent (11-for-17) in the third and was 6-for-8 from beyond the arc.

Western Illinois cut BU's lead to five points early in the fourth, but an 8-1 Bradley run gave the Braves their largest lead of the night at 74-62. Senior Danielle Brewer got the decisive spurt started with a layup and Schlueter scored the next four points on a jumper and a pair of free throws. Brackmann added two more free throws of her own when she was fouled after coming up with a steal.

Bradley led 82-71 on a Brackmann hoop nearing the four-minute mark when Western Illinois made one last push. A 9-2 Leatherneck run, highlighted by five points from Emily Clemens, trimmed Bradley's lead to just four (84-80) with 1:48 on the clock.

Haack delivered the dagger on the next trip down for the Braves, burying her eighth three-pointer of the night from the corner to make it a three-possession contest again at 87-80. Western Illinois came up empty on its final three possessions as Bradley posted its largest comeback victory at home since March 14, 2012 against Tennessee Tech.

Haack added a season-best 10 rebounds and three assists to help highlight the victory for the Braves. Brackmann added 20 points and 12 rebounds off the bench for her team-best second double-double of the year to help pace four BU players in double figures. Schlueter tallied 15 points, five rebounds, seven assists, three blocks and five steals, while White chipped in with 11 points off the bench.

Bradley will open the Missouri Valley Conference portion of the schedule Sunday with an 11 a.m. contest at I-74 rival Illinois State.

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