VALPARAISO, Ind. — The Bradley Braves put up a strong fight but came up short against the Valparaiso Beacons in a tight Missouri Valley Conference, falling 59-52.

A Close Start
Bradley hung tough in the first quarter, but Valparaiso managed to pull ahead, taking a 17-9 lead. The Braves' defense clamped down in the second quarter, holding the Beacons to just eight points, but offensive struggles left Bradley trailing 25-17 at halftime.

Standout Performers for Bradley

• Tamia Perryman led the way with 19 points, shooting an efficient 7-of-12 from the floor and hitting 4-of-7 from deep. She also grabbed 3 rebounds.

• Kaylen Nelson added 16 points, sinking three three-pointers and contributing 5 rebounds.

• Ellie McDermid was a force in the paint, scoring 6 points and pulling down a game-high 13 rebounds.

Missed Opportunities
The Braves couldn't find their rhythm offensively, shooting just 30.5% from the field and 25.8% from beyond the arc. Turnovers proved costly as Bradley gave up 19, leading to 13 points for Valparaiso.

Strong Defense
Bradley's defense kept them in the game, forcing 18 turnovers and tallying 8 steals. Ruba Abo Hashesh was active on both ends, finishing with 3 steals and 6 assists. However, the Beacons capitalized inside, outscoring the Braves 28-16 in the paint.

Looking Forward
Despite a solid effort, the Braves couldn't close the gap in the final minutes. They'll look to bounce back in a short trip down 74, as they take on the Illinois State Redbirds, on Jan. 23rd at 2 p.m.