BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Bradley Women's Basketball fell to Indiana, 84-56, Monday night at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. The Braves (1-2) started strong, holding an 18-15 lead after the first quarter, but a 27-point second quarter helped the Hoosiers (3-0) take control of the contest.
Braves Start Strong
Bradley established its offensive rhythm early, using an 11-0 run in the first quarter to build a 13-7 advantage. Charia Smith fueled the early momentum with eight points during the opening stretch, while Lila Posthuma connected on a three-pointer to extend the lead.
Inia Jones added a three-pointer in the closing seconds of the quarter, helping Bradley carry an 18-15 advantage into the second period.
Indiana responded in the second quarter, using an 11-0 run to turn a 23-21 Bradley lead into a 32-23 advantage. The Hoosiers capitalized on eight Bradley turnovers in the period, outscoring the Braves 27-8 to take a 42-26 lead into halftime.
Standout Performances
Ellie McDermid led Bradley with a team-high 21 points, shooting 7-of-13 from the field and connecting on three three-pointers. She also added four rebounds and a block.
Smith followed with 20 points and a team-high nine rebounds, shooting 9-of-21 from the field and knocking down two three-pointers.
Mya Wardle facilitated the offense with a game-high seven assists while contributing five points and five rebounds.
Alice Veilleux added five assists, four rebounds and two steals, while Jones contributed three points and three assists off the bench.
Indiana Pulls Away in Second Half
Bradley opened the third quarter with back-to-back three-pointers from Smith, cutting the Indiana lead to 44-32 early in the period.
The Hoosiers responded with a 6-0 run to extend their advantage to 50-32. Bradley continued to battle, with McDermid helping the Braves score 18 points in the quarter, matching Indiana's offensive output.
Trailing 60-44 entering the fourth quarter, Bradley opened the final period with two three-pointers from McDermid, trimming the deficit to 62-50 with 8:25 remaining.
Indiana answered with a 12-0 run to regain control, ultimately securing the 84-56 victory.
By the Numbers
Bradley shot 40.7 percent from the field (22-of-54) and connected on eight three-pointers, finishing 8-of-25 (32.0 percent) from beyond the arc.
The Braves recorded 15 assists on 22 made field goals, led by Wardle's seven assists and Veilleux's five.
Indiana shot 48.4 percent from the field and held a 43-29 advantage on the glass. The Hoosiers also outscored Bradley 50-20 in the paint and converted 15 Bradley turnovers into 17 points.
Bradley finished with 10 fast-break points, while Indiana recorded 13.