Peoria, Ill. – Bradley Women's Basketball opens a home/road weekend split Thursday by hosting the Northern Iowa Panthers at 6 p.m.
Game Information
Matchup: Bradley Braves vs. Northern Iowa
Date: Thursday, February 5, 2026
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Streaming: ESPN+
Live Stats: Link
What to Watch
Bradley enters this matchup with a perfect 10-0 home record and is tied for third in the MVC with a 7-4 conference record. The Braves are coming off an overtime loss against Illinois State, where Bradley held one of the best MVC offenses to 58 points. The Braves have been a strong team on both sides of the ball, posting the fourth-highest scoring (72.2 points per game) and the third-best defense (64.8 points per game) in the MVC. They have been one of the best teams from beyond the arc, leading the MVC in three-point percentage (.346) and ranking 13th in the NCAA in three-point defense (.258). Bradley has been an aggressive team defensively all season, ranking third in the MVC in steals (8.27 per game), blocks (3.27 per game), and turnover margin (1.18 per game).
UNI enters this matchup in a three-way tie for third place in the MVC at a 7-4 record. The Panthers have gone 3-2 in their last five games and are coming off a 66-56 win over Drake. UNI has struggled offensively, ranking ninth in scoring offense (65.3 points per game), sixth in field goal percentage (.410), and second in three-point percentage (.320). However, the Panthers have been the best defense in the MVC this season, allowing the fewest points per game (63.3) and the lowest field goal percentage (.380). Despite this, they have struggled to defend from distance, allowing the fourth-highest three-point percentage (.317). The Panthers also do a great job of limiting second-chance points, as they have the most defensive rebounds (28.8 per game) in the conference and lead the MVC in blocks (4.43 per game).
Key Players to Watch
The last time these two teams met, Kaylen Nelson led the Braves with 23 points, six rebounds, and one assist with no turnovers. Nelson is coming off the best streak of her career. In her last five games, she has averaged 20.8 points and 6.0 rebounds per game while adding seven assists, six steals, and two blocks. Maya Foz has been extremely consistent, hitting double-digit points in each of her last 14 games, and hasn't missed that mark in the conference season. Ellie McDermid played 41 minutes in her last game against Illinois State, which is the most she's played in a single game in her collegiate career. In that game, she finished the day with 10 points, eight rebounds, three blocks, and one steal.
The Panthers are led by Jenna Twedt, who leads the team in points per game (13.3) and adds 1.9 rebounds per game, along with 24 assists, 20 steals, and six blocks this season. Ryley Goebel has been a strong contributor for UNI this season, averaging 13.1 points per game on a .580 field goal percentage, which leads the MVC by .043, while also totaling 8.4 rebounds per game, 26 assists, 42 steals, and 52 blocks. Elise Jaeger leads the team in rebounding with 10 per game while adding 7.5 points per game, 51 assists, 32 steals, and 13 blocks.
