PEORIA, Ill. -- Sophomore Shronda Butts (Des Moines, Iowa/East) scored a team-high 17 points to pace three Bradley players in double figures as the Braves extended their win streak against in-state non-conference opponents to six games with a 67-58 victory over Northern Illinois Wednesday at Renaissance Coliseum.

After completing a season-long, five-game road swing with a 3-2 record, Bradley (4-3 overall) earned its first home victory of the year and won its third consecutive game in the series with the victory.  The 58 points scored by Northern Illinois (2-3 overall) was the lowest point total for a BU opponent this season and Bradley's 67 points were the most surrendered by the Huskies, who entered the game giving up just 57.2 points per game, this year.
 
Bradley got off to a hot start, scoring 10 points in the first five minutes and took a 10-5 lead on a Katie Yohn (Elgin, Ill./St. Edward) three-pointer.  The Braves held Northern Illinois to one field goal over the final six and a half minutes of the opening period and outscored the Huskies 10-6 down the stretch to take a 32-26 lead into the break.
 
NIU pulled within three points in the opening minutes of the second half, but freshman Jenny Smith (Pewaukee, Wis./Arrowhead) capped a 9-2 BU run with back-to-back baskets as the Braves built a 45-35 advantage nearing the 11-minute mark.  Smith was 1-for-4 from the field in the first half, but connected on 3-of-4 shots after the half and collected 10 points, four rebounds and one assist in the second half. 
 
The Braves' lead stood at 59-54 with just under two minutes remaining when junior Catie O'Leary (Janesville, Wis./Parker/Wisconsin) knocked down a three with the shot clock winding down to push the advantage back to eight points (62-54) with 1:31 to play.  O'Leary scored six straight points for BU and made a pair of free throws with 51.8 seconds left to help seal the win.
 
Butts scored 17 points on 5-of-8 shooting and matched a career-high with five assists.  O'Leary collected 15 points with Smith adding 12 points off the bench to help pace Bradley.  The trio combined for 25 of the Braves' 35 second-half points.  Bradley shot 43.8 percent from the field and came away with a season-high 12 steals, highlighted by sophomore Michelle Young's (Woodbury, Minn./Woodbury) career-best four steals. 

Jada Buggs scored 14 of her game-high 18 points in the second half to pace Northern Illinois.  The Huskies outrebounded Bradley 37-28 and owned a 30-24 advantage in points in the paint. 
 
Bradley continues a two-game home stand Saturday with a 7 p.m. game against Winthrop at Renaissance Coliseum.  Fans can receive free admission to Saturday's game with a ticket stub from Saturday afternoon's men's basketball home game against third-ranked Michigan or a donation for Toys for Tots.  Toy donations must be new, unwrapped toys for children ages 11 and under.