Peoria, Ill. – Bradley Women's Basketball plays their final road game of the regular season on Thursday, February 26, when they face the UIC Flames at 11 a.m.
Game Information
Matchup: Bradley Braves at UIC Flames
Date: Thursday, February 26, 2026
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Streaming: ESPN+
Live Stats: Link
What to Watch
Bradley enters this matchup after defeating the second-place Belmont Bruins on Sunday, 51-47. The Braves are in third place in the Missouri Valley Conference, half a game back on the Bruins, with a 12-5 conference record. They have won five of their last six games and are 8-2 in their last 10. Bradley has scored the fifth-most points per game (70.3) and has the best defense in the conference, allowing the fewest points per game (63.8). The Braves also have the fifth-highest field goal percentage (.413) and hold their opponents to the third-lowest field goal percentage (.394). Bradley is still the best three-point team in the MVC, holding the highest three-point percentage (.347) and the lowest opponent three-point percentage (.259), a mark that ranks them seventh in the NCAA.
The Flames come into this game with an 8-8 record and are in sixth place in the MVC, one game back of the fifth-place UNI Panthers. UIC has won their last two games and is 5-5 in their last 10. The Flames have one of the worst offenses in the MVC, scoring the second-fewest points per game (65.4), but they have one of the best defenses, allowing the third-fewest points per game (64.7). As a team, they are very efficient at shooting, ranking second in field goal percentage (.438) and holding their opponents to the fourth-lowest field goal percentage (.421). The Flames have struggled beyond the arc, ranking ninth in three-point percentage (.287) and eighth in three-point percentage defense (.322). One of the Flames' strongest assets is their ability to limit opponent rebounds, as they allow the fewest rebounds per game (34.3) in the MVC.
Key Players to Watch
Kaylen Nelson had a great game on Sunday, leading the team with 19 points, eight rebounds, three steals, and one assist. She ranks fourth in the MVC in points per game (17.6) and leads the conference in three-point percentage (.400) and three-pointers made per game (2.7). Maya Foz has been one of the most consistent Braves, scoring double-digit points in each of her last 20 games. On Sunday, she finished the day with 11 points, six rebounds, two assists, and one steal. Tamia Perryman had a strong return to the lineup on Sunday. She scored eight points and added six rebounds, two steals, and one assist in 33 minutes of playing time. In the three games before her absence due to illness, she averaged 12.3 points and added nine rebounds, five steals, and one assist.
UIC is led by Jessica Carrothers, who ranks third in the MVC in points per game at 18.3 while ranking sixth in assists per game with 3.9. She also averages 3.4 rebounds per game, has 33 steals, and owns the fourth-best field goal percentage in the conference at .514. Julia Coleman has also been a strong contributor for the Flames, averaging 15.0 points per game, 7.0 rebounds per game, and 1.4 steals per game, which rank 10th, eighth, and fourth in the MVC, respectively. Clayton Tutu is also having a solid year, averaging 9.1 points per game and 2.6 rebounds per game while ranking 13th in assists at 2.9 per game and 18th in steals at 1.4 per game.
