Bradley University Athletics

Bradley Women's Basketball Begins Building Squad 48

Head Coach Andrea Gorski announced the signings of guards Reagan Barkema and Megan Barton Wednesday

Bobby Parker, Sr. Associate AD for Communications and Event & Facility Operations Women's Basketball 11/10/2021 2:00:00 PM

PEORIA, IL – The Bradley Women's Basketball program has handled the past, present and future in the last two days. A day after celebrating their 2021 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament championship prior to dismantling Wright State in their 2021-22 season opener, the Braves added to their 2022-23 roster Wednesday with the announcement guards Reagan Barkema (Story City, IA/Roland-Story HS) and Megan Barton (Carbondale, IL/Carterville HS/Rend Lake CC) have signed their National Letters of Intent to attend Bradley University next year.

Both of the newest additions to Head Coach Andrea Gorski's squad will fill backcourt roles for the Braves. Barkema is a 5-foot-11 guard from Roland-Story High School in Iowa, while Barton is a 5-foot-9 guard from Carterville, Ill., High School who will transfer to Bradley as a junior from Rend Lake Community College.

A three-sport star at Roland-Story High School, Barkema has excelled in basketball, volleyball and track throughout her prep career. She is a two-time all-state selection on the hardwood, helping the Norsemen to the Iowa 3A state tournament in 2019 and again in 2021. She also has twice earned all-conference honors in volleyball and she has been a state track and field championship qualifier in the high jump.

"Reagan is a dynamic guard with the size and IQ to be an immediate scoring threat at the wing position," said Gorski. "Coming from one of the top AAU programs in the Midwest, she brings a winning mentality and a top-notch work ethic."

Barton was the 2020-21 Great Rivers Conference Freshman of the Year after averaging 12.9 points and 1.5 steals per game last season, while helping Rend Lake to a 14-6 overall record and the Midwest Region Tournament championship game.

Also a basketball and track star at Carterville High School, Barton was an Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Class 2A All-State Special Mention selection in 2019-20 after helping the Lions to a 31-3 overall record and a third-place finish in the IHSA Class 2A state tournament during her senior year.

"Megan is a super-athletic guard that has one of the best midrange games I've seen in a while," said Gorski. "Her energy on both ends of the floor will be an immediate addition to our guard play. She's fearless on the court and is great for our competitive culture."

Bradley (1-0) opened the 2021-22 season Tuesday night at Renaissance Coliseum with an 84-65 win against fellow 2021 NCAA Tournament participant Wright State. The Braves will continue their season-opening, 3-game home stand Monday by hosting Upper Iowa, then will close the home stand Nov. 19 by hosting Wisconsin. Both games are slated for 6:30 p.m. tipoffs at Renaissance Coliseum.

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