BOCA RATON, Fla. – Sophomore
Gabi Haack hit seven three-pointers and scored a career-best 32 points to go with 11 rebounds as she helped Bradley Women's Basketball to an 80-59 win at Florida Atlantic Saturday afternoon in the championship game of the FAU Thanksgiving Tournament.
The victory gave the Braves (4-0 overall) their first in-season tournament title since 2008-09 along with the first 4-0 start to a season in nearly two decades. The last time Bradley opened a season with four consecutive victories came in 2001-02 when BU went a perfect 9-0 in non-conference action.
Haack's 32 points were the most by a Brave almost four years to the day from when Michelle Young tied the Bradley single-game scoring record of 38 points in a contest at Columbia on Nov. 26, 2014. Haack also added 11 rebounds and four assists in the victory.
Fellow sophomore
Nyjah White also earned a spot on the FAU Thanksgiving Tournament All-Tournament team after collecting 13 points, three assists and three steals Saturday. Senior
Vanessa Markert joined the duo in double figures with 10 points and five rebounds in 10 minutes off the bench.
"We got off to a strong start, but got a little stagnant on offense in the second quarter," said Bradley head coach Andrea Gorski. "At halftime we talked about playing smart and taking better shots along with our ball-screen defense, which was a little more solid in the second half. Gabi came up huge. They started trapping and the team did a great job of moving the ball."
Bradley got off to a slow start offensively in yesterday's win over Delaware, but wasted no time to get going in Saturday's outing. The Braves scored the first 13 points of the game, holding Florida Atlantic (2-4 overall) scoreless for almost five minutes to start the contest before the Owls made a free throw.
Haack hit a trio of three-pointers during Bradley's opening barrage and had 11 points in the opening 10 minutes to help the Braves to a 24-15 lead at the end of the first. BU forced seven FAU turnovers in the first quarter, which translated into 13 points. Markert added eight points in just five minutes in the first.
Bradley matched its largest lead of the first half nearing the midway point of the second when Haack's fourth three-pointer of the day gave the Braves a 34-21 advantage with 4:27 to play in the half. The Braves went cold from the field, however, making just one field goal in the final four minutes of the second. The Bradley lead was still 11 at 38-27 with 3:13 left in the half after a pair of Markert free throws. FAU scored the final eight points of the period to pull within three (38-35) at halftime.
The Braves held a 61-54 lead at the end of the third quarter, before taking control in the fourth. Haack scored the opening hoop of the fourth quarter and had seven points during a 13-2 Bradley run to open the fourth as she helped Bradley extend the advantage to 74-56 with 4:48 to play.
FAU got its final hoop of the game with 4:27 left on the clock, only to have Haack knock down her seventh three-pointer of the contest. Bradley outscored the Owls 19-5 in the fourth.
Haack's seven three-pointers were one off her career high of eight set last year against Western Illinois and tie for the third most in a game by a Brave.
Amber Gaston led Florida Atlantic with 15 points and nine rebound off the bench.
Bradley opens a three-game home stand Wednesday with a 7 p.m. contest against Eastern Illinois at Renaissance Coliseum.