PEORIA, Ill. – Bradley Women's Basketball returns to Renaissance Coliseum on Friday evening as the Braves welcome the Northern Illinois Huskies for their 2026-27 home opener.
Game Information
Matchup: Bradley vs. Northern Illinois
Date: Friday, November 6, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM CT
Location: Renaissance Coliseum | Peoria, Ill.
Streaming: ESPN+
Live Stats: Link
What to Watch
Bradley enters Friday's home opener following a hard-fought 71-65 loss at Wisconsin on Tuesday evening. The Braves erased an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit to tie the game at 65 in the final minute before the Badgers pulled away in the closing seconds. Bradley outscored Wisconsin 23-18 in the fourth quarter, connecting on five three-pointers in the final period.
The Braves showed promising signs in their first game under Meier, shooting 44.8% from the field while recording 23 assists on 26 made field goals. Bradley also held a 39-33 advantage on the glass and connected on nine three-pointers. Four Braves finished in double figures.
Friday marks Meier's first opportunity to lead Bradley on its home court since being named the program's 11th head coach in April. A Central Illinois native, Meier brings 16 years of collegiate coaching experience to the Hilltop, including the previous two seasons as an assistant coach at Marquette University.
Northern Illinois enters Friday's contest with a 1-0 record following a 76-71 victory over Indiana State on Monday. The Huskies shot 50.9% from the field and connected on nine of 18 three-point attempts in their season opener. Northern Illinois is led by second-year head coach Jacey Brooks and begins its first season as a member of the Horizon League after previously competing in the Mid-American Conference.
Friday's matchup marks the first meeting between Bradley and Northern Illinois since November 22, 2021, when the Huskies earned an 80-59 victory in DeKalb.
Key Players to Watch
Ellie McDermid opened her junior campaign with a double-double against Wisconsin, finishing with 12 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. McDermid shot 5-of-9 from the field, knocked down two three-pointers and added five assists in 37 minutes. The Green Bay native led Bradley in rebounding during the 2025-26 season and figures to remain a key contributor in the Braves' frontcourt.
Mya Wardle delivered a strong all-around performance in Bradley's season opener, recording 11 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. The Peoria native connected on three shots from beyond the arc while playing 38 minutes. After leading Bradley with 115 assists last season, Wardle continues to direct the Braves' offense in her junior campaign.
Inia Jones provided a spark off the bench against Wisconsin, leading Bradley with 13 points on 4-of-12 shooting. Jones connected on three three-pointers and added two assists in 25 minutes. Newcomer Charia Smith also made an immediate impact in her Bradley debut, finishing with 10 points, six rebounds and three assists while shooting 5-of-7 from the field.
Northern Illinois senior guard Leah Middleton led all scorers with 22 points in the Huskies' season-opening victory over Indiana State. Freshman Laniah Davis added 20 points off the bench, including a stretch of 11 consecutive points in the second quarter that helped Northern Illinois build a double-digit advantage.
The Huskies also return senior forward Nevaeh Wingate, who led Northern Illinois in both scoring and rebounding during the 2025-26 season with averages of 13.5 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. Wingate provides an experienced presence in the frontcourt as Northern Illinois looks to build on its season-opening victory.
