Box Score The I-74 Rivalry picked up again as the Braves and Redbirds faced off in a close game at the Renaissance Coliseum.
 
The teams traded three pointers to begin the game, with Paige Robinson making the first basket for ISU and Ruba Abo Hashesh for Bradley. ISU's next basket once again came from Robinson as she sank another three. Daija Powell made her presence felt down low, picking up a quick block in the opening minutes of the game. Come first media timeout, the Braves were down 3-8 but had less turnovers and more blocks than the Redbirds.
 
Back in play, Waite immediately hit a transition three, but ISU came back with a three of their own from Mary Crompton. The Redbirds gained another three points after a made basket and free throw. The Braves continued to push back, as a forced steal left Rouse with the ball before she passed it up to Waite for a layup. Reagan Barkema closed out the quarter for the Braves, blocking a three.
 
The Braves were down 8-14 to begin the second quarter, but a quick basket from Powell brought Bradley within four points. Maya Wong sank a shot from beyond the arc after grabbing a loose rebound on ISU's end. Powell continued to put in the work down low as Waite found her for an easy layup. Bradley picked up another block in the third with Rouse blocking a three. Fitch then drew a foul on a shot and made both free throws before the media timeout was called. Bradley was down 16-23 and was being out-rebounded, but they continued to win the turnover and block game, carrying on the same way as the first.
 
A three pointer and pull up jumper from Waite brought the Braves closer, but the team struggled to guard the corner three that ISU loved to pull out. A foul from Waite saw Hannah Kelle of ISU make two free throws, and Rouse hit a jumper down at the other end. Bradley was down 25-32 at half.
 
ISU made the first basket of the second half on a floater from Mary Crompton, but a jumper from Isis Fitch got the Braves on the board right away. Bradley found themselves down ten after a three pointer from Mary Crompton. Baskets from Fitch and Waite brought Bradley to within five, but a shot from Abbie Aalsma put ISU up by eight again.
 
Coming out of the media timeout, Barkema was fouled on a three pointer and made two of the three free throws. Abo Hashesh then drove to the basket and drew a foul, sinking both shots from the line. Bradley continued driving and Fitch got a floater to roll in. The Braves were down 39-44 heading into the final quarter.
 
The first basket of the fourth quarter came on a buzzer beater from Isis Fitch, and Waite then hit a step back three to tie the game at 44. An early media timeout left Bradley with seven minutes to find a way to win the game
 
The rest of the quarter was a story of back and forth as the Braves and Redbirds trade shots. A free throw from Waite and a shot down low from Powell put the Braves up by one, but two free throws for ISU saw the Redbirds take the lead again. Abo Hashesh drilled a three pointer to put the Braves up by one with just under four minutes left. The final moments of the game saw Paige Robinson make a layup and a three to push ISU's lead even further, and two more free throws put the Redbirds up by ten. Bradley ultimately lost 50-60.

NOTABLES
Caroline Waite: 19 points, 2 assists, 3 steals and 3 rebounds, 50% from three.
Isis Fitch: 10 points, 8 rebounds, 1 block, 100% from free throw line.
Daija Powell: 6 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 2 steals. 

WHAT'S NEXT
The Braves head on the road to play Murray State on Sunday January 15.. You can stream the games on ESPN+, or you can listen to the games on 1290 WIRL.