Bradley BRAD 11-13, 5-8 MVC

Southern Illinois SIU 13-11, 8-5 MVC

Bradley BRAD

11-13, 5-8 MVC

Final

Feb. 11, 2018

Southern Illinois SIU

13-11, 8-5 MVC

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	3	4	F
Bradley BRAD	7	14	15	17	53
Southern Illinois SIU	17	17	14	14	62

Box Score

Duane Zehr

Markert’s Double-Double Not Enough in SIU Win

Box Score

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | 2/11/2018 1:58:00 PM

CARBONDALE, Ill. – The Bradley women's basketball team trimmed a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit down to six in the closing minutes but Southern Illinois held on for a 62-53 victory on Sunday afternoon. The Braves are now 11-13 and 5-8 in Missouri Valley Conference action, while the Salukis improve to 13-11 and 8-5 against league foes.

Junior Vanessa Markert led the Braves with her first double-double of the season, scoring a game-high 21 points to go with a season-best 11 boards. Markert made 9-of-17 field goals on the day to go with three free throws for her second 20-point effort of the year.

"That was Vanessa's best game of the year against good post players and that is what we have been challenging her to do," said Bradley head coach Andrea Gorski. "She was very determined and had a lot of energy. She didn't give up in her low-post position. We just didn't have enough players to follow that energy and that example out there."

Ultimately, it was a slow start that put the Braves behind. The Salukis scored 12 of the game's first 14 points for a lead they would never relinquish. Markert tried to carry the team in the opening frame by scoring all seven of BU's points – cutting the SIU advantage down to five at one point, 12-7 – before the Salukis finished with a 17-7 first quarter lead.

The momentum carried over to the second quarter for SIU, who used 42.3 percent shooting and a 6-of-11 first half from 3-point range for a 34-21 lead at the break.

In the second half, the Braves fought back but every time they pulled to within single digits in the third quarter, Southern Illinois had an answer. The Salukis stretched their advantage to as many as 17 early in the fourth quarter after hitting back-to-back 3-pointers before the Braves attempted a rally.

Trailing 54-37, the Braves tallied eight-straight points to pull within nine, 54-45, with six minutes remaining. Then after back-to-back baskets from Markert and Gabi Haack, Bradley was down just six, 57-51, with 1:43 left in regulation. However, the Salukis used an and-one in the final minute of play to secure the 62-53 victory.

Bradley shot 38.6 percent from the field to SIU's 39.2 percent but an 18-7 edge in points off turnovers tilted the game in the Salukis favor.

The Braves are back in action on Friday with a home game against Evansville. Tipoff at Renaissance Arena is scheduled for 7 p.m.

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