Peoria, Ill. – Bradley Women's Basketball returns home for their final homestand of the regular season on Thursday as they host the Evansville Purple Aces at 6 p.m.
Game Information
Matchup: Bradley Braves vs. Evansville Purple Aces
Date: Thursday, March 5, 2026
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Streaming: ESPN+
Live Stats: Link
What to Watch
Bradley enters this game tied for third place with Illinois State with a 12-6 conference record and has gone 7-3 in their last 10 games. The Braves lost their final road game of the season against UIC last Thursday, 66-53, after a slow first half left them down by 22 points. Bradley has been dominant at home this season, posting a 12-1 record after starting the season with 10 straight home wins. Bradley has one of the best defenses in the MVC, ranking second in points allowed per game (63.9), third in opponent field goal percentage (.397), and holding opponents to the lowest three-point percentage (.264). Offensively, they have remained one of the top teams in the conference, recording the highest three-point percentage (.343), ranking sixth in field goal percentage (.412), and sixth in points scored per game (69.7).
The Purple Aces have struggled this season and are currently in ninth place with a 5-13 MVC record. Evansville has lost their last two games and has gone 3-7 in their last 10 games. The Purple Aces and Braves last met on February 13, when the Braves took a 25-17 third quarter en route to a 79-68 win. The Purple Aces have scored the seventh-most points per game (67.6), the second-worst field goal percentage (.390), and the fifth-best three-point percentage (.310). Defensively, they haven't been much better, allowing the fourth-most points per game (75.8), the second-highest field goal percentage (.441), and the sixth-lowest three-point percentage (.314).
Key Players to Watch
Kaylen Nelson recorded her first career double-double the last time the Purple Aces and Braves met, leading the team with 24 points and 11 rebounds while adding four assists and four steals. In her last game, Nelson finished the game with 14 points, three rebounds, two steals, and one assist. Maya Foz also recorded her first career double-double the last time Bradley faced Evansville, totaling 12 points, 10 rebounds, and one assist. Foz has hit double-digit points in every conference game this season and is coming off an 11-point effort against UIC. Ellie McDermid had a strong game against the Purple Aces the last time the two teams met, recording 20 points, six rebounds, four assists, and one block. Mya Wardle is coming off a strong game in which she recorded 12 points, five assists, four rebounds, and one steal.
Camryn Runner is coming off one of her best games of the season. On Thursday, she recorded the highest single-game point total in the MVC this season, finishing with 36 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists. She ranks third in the MVC in points per game at 18.2, 17th in rebounds at 5.7 per game, second in assists at 5.4 per game, and fifth in steals at 1.7 per game. Elle Snyder leads the team and ranks 16th in rebounds with 5.7 per game while averaging 3.4 points per game. Georgia Ferguson has the highest field goal percentage on the team at .519 and leads the team in total blocks with 22. She also averages 5.6 points per game and 2.9 rebounds per game.
