Peoria, Ill. – Bradley Women's Basketball matched the energy of the 3,704 fans in attendance to defeat the University of South Dakota, 65-62, on Wednesday.
A Strong Defensive Start
The Braves and Coyotes both have strong defensive games, which was shown in the first quarter, as the first basket was made 2:30 into the game. South Dakota held the lead for the entire first quarter, but the Braves kept within striking distance, trailing 8-5 heading into the second quarter. In the second, Bradley made up the ground quickly and traded baskets with the Coyotes, entering halftime with a tie score of 22-22.
Standout Performances for Bradley
Maya Foz was named the Ameren Illinois Player of the Game after leading the team with 14 points and six rebounds, while adding two steals. Kaylen Nelson had another strong game for the Braves, scoring 12 points with four rebounds, two steals, and a block. Tamia Perryman has scored double-digit points in back-to-back games, finishing with 12 points, four rebounds, two assists, and a steal. Mya Wardle kept the pressure on South Dakota all over the floor, leading the team with four steals and six assists while adding seven points and four rebounds.
Holding on for the Win
Bradley came out firing in the third quarter, going on a six-point run to take a 28-22 lead that they never let go of for the rest of the game. The Braves made use of the charity stripe, scoring 13 of their 27 points in the quarter from the free-throw line to give them a 49-38 advantage heading into the final quarter. The Coyotes fought their way back into the game, cutting the lead down to one with 30 seconds left, but a Wardle steal and two free throws iced the game, giving Bradley a 65-62 win over South Dakota.
Defensive Notes
The Braves were reading South Dakota's passes very well, making multiple interceptions to force 16 Coyote turnovers on the day, while totaling 12 steals. Bradley also did a phenomenal job defending South Dakota from distance, holding the Coyotes to just 2-for-11 from beyond the arc. The Braves kept even with South Dakota in rebounds, as both teams finished the day with 33.
Coming Up…
Bradley will look to sweep their three-game homestand on Thursday, December 18, at 6 p.m. as they take on the Southern Illinois Salukis to kick off conference play.