COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Freshman Kathryn McNease matched her low round of the year with a 74 and fellow freshman Maria Perakis carded a one-over 73 Tuesday as the pair helped Bradley Women's Golf improve by 11 shots from the opening round and move into a tie for 12th at the Johnie Imes Invitational.

After a first-round 311 Monday, the Braves were 11 strokes better with a 300 during Tuesday's second round at the par-72 Club at Old Hawthorne.  Bradley is tied with South Dakota for 12th at 611, 18 shots better than 14th-place UAB (629) and just one back of 11th-place Eastern Kentucky (610) heading into Wednesday's final round.  Tournament-host Missouri has a 16-shot lead on the field at seven-under 569 with Wichita State second at 585.

McNease is the leader for the Braves in the clubhouse after closing Tuesday's round with a birdie as she matched a season-low round with a two-over 74.  She is tied for 34th overall at eight-over 152 after two days of play.

Perakis had the low round of the day for Bradley with a one-over 73 and finds herself one shot back of McNease in a tie for 39th at 153.  Senior Megan Welch is tied with Perakis for 39th at 153, improving by one shot from Monday with a second-round 76. 

Bradley's top performer from Monday's opening round, senior Sarah Nacos posted a second-round 79 to close the day at 155 in a tie for 49th. 

Junior Mara Flaherty had the biggest improvement among the Braves from Monday's action, rebounding from a first-round 83 to fire a 77 Tuesday as she moved up into a tie for 66th in the field at 160. 

The final round of the Johnie Imes Invitational tees off Wednesday at 8 a.m.