Women’s Basketball Hosts Kansas City To Open 2020-21 Season

Duane Zehr

Women's Basketball 11/24/2020 11:04:00 AM

PEORIA, Ill. -- Bradley Women's Basketball returns to the court for the first time since the abrupt end to the 2019-20 season, kicking off the 2020-21 campaign Wednesday by hosting Kansas City in a 1 p.m. contest at Renaissance Coliseum.

The Wednesday afternoon game against Kansas City will be available on ESPN3, while BradleyBraves.com will provide links to live stats along with the WIRL 1290 AM radio broadcast.

Bradley (22-7 overall, 13-5 MVC in 2019-20) will face a Kansas City (21-10, 13-3 WAC) team which claimed the Western Athletic Conference regular-season title last year, but moved back to the Summit League in 2020-21 after a seven-year stint in the WAC.

Wednesday's contest will mark the third meeting between Bradley and Kansas City and first matchup since the Braves posted an 80-59 win on Nov. 29, 2001 in the only previous games played in Peoria in the series. Bradley claimed the first meeting the year before, edging the Roos 59-55 on the road on Nov. 24, 2000.

Overall, Bradley owns a 34-15 record against current members of the Summit League, which includes a 13-5 mark against Western Illinois while the Leathernecks were part of the Gateway Conference (1983-84 through 1991-92). The Braves are 20-3 at home all-time against teams from the Summit League and have won four consecutive home contests against Summit League squads. Fifth-year Bradley head coach Andrea Gorski is 6-1 against teams from the Summit League, with the Braves claiming each of the last six contests.

Boasting one of the most experienced rosters in the MVC, Bradley returns over 80 percent of its scoring from a 22-win squad which was third in the Valley in scoring. In addition, the returning Braves accounted for nearly three-quarters of the team's rebounding after ranking fourth in the league.

Overall, BU's nine returners from 2019-20 combined to score 57.7 points per outing last year (second in MVC) and nearly 27 rebounds per contest (fourth in MVC). The only team to return two players that ranked in the top 10 in the MVC in scoring last year, Bradley has a trio of individuals that scored at least 10 points per outing in 2019-20 in MVC Preseason Player of the Year Lasha Petree (16.5 ppg), Gabi Haack (13.3 ppg) and Nyjah White (10.8 ppg).

Picked second in the MVC preseason poll, Bradley is 27-18 (.600) in season-opening games after a 74-58 road win at Oakland last year and the Braves are 3-1 in openers under Gorski. Overall, Bradley will be opening a season in the state of Illinois for the 32nd time in 46 seasons (22-9). The Braves are 20-6 when opening a season at home, including a 5-1 record in season openers at Renaissance Coliseum and 9-1 in the last 10 openers played in Peoria.

Of the 12 previous times Bradley has opened the season with consecutive home games the Braves have won the first game nine times. In fact, six of the 12 times BU has played a pair of home games to start a season have resulted in a 2-0 start, including four of the last five.

Sporting a 32-13 (.711) record in home openers, Bradley has won four straight home openers during Gorski's tenure at her alma mater. The Braves are 15-11 when facing an out of state opponent in the home opener, including a perfect 3-0 record in such games under Gorski.

While Bradley lost its last outing at Renaissance Coliseum, a three-point setback to #17/21 Missouri State last March, the Braves are an impressive 18-1 in their last 19 home contests and have won 11 consecutive non-conference home tilts. During Gorski's time on The Hilltop, Bradley owns a 16-4 record at home against non-conference foes.

The Braves follow up Wednesday's season opener by closing out a two-game home stand Saturday with a 6 p.m. contest against Horizon League foe Milwaukee.

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Players Mentioned

#3 Gabi Haack: G; 5' 10"; Senior

#11 Lasha Petree: G; 6' 0"; Junior

#45 Nyjah White: F; 5' 11"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#3 Gabi Haack
: 5' 10"; Senior
: G

#11 Lasha Petree
: 6' 0"; Junior
: G

#45 Nyjah White
: 5' 11"; Senior
: F

Women’s Basketball Hosts Kansas City To Open 2020-21 Season

Players Mentioned

#3 Gabi Haack

#11 Lasha Petree

#45 Nyjah White

Players Mentioned

#3 Gabi Haack

#11 Lasha Petree

#45 Nyjah White