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EAST PEORIA, Ill.—A 21-2 run by the Bradley University women’s basketball team on Thursday night turned a six-point game into a blowout, as the Braves cruised to a 75-46 victory over the visiting University of Evansville Purple Aces at Lorene Ramsey Gymnasium in East Peoria, Illinois.
A jumper by UE senior Amy Gallagher with 7:46 to play in the first half helped UE get within six points at 22-16. Evansville would score just two points on a pair of Kaylan Martin free throws over the next 10 minutes though, as Bradley scored 21 of the game’s next 23 points to grab a 43-18 lead with 17:51 to play in the second half. Evansville would get no closer than 19 points the rest of the way.
Bradley held Evansville to just 30.8 percent shooting from the floor (16-for-52), while forcing UE into 24 turnovers which turned into a 27-12 edge in points off of turnovers for the Braves. Bradley, meanwhile, shot 46.9 percent from the floor (30-for-64), including 59.3 percent in the second half (16-for-27).
Senior guard Renee Frericks led a balanced Bradley offense with 18 points in 28 minutes of reserve action. Freshman guard Katie Yohn added 11 points and sophomore reserve center Latasha Hollingshed notched her first career double-double as a Brave with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Hollingshed entered the game averaging just 2.3 points and 1.2 rebounds per game on the season.
Junior forward Stephanie Bamberger led Evansville with 11 points and a career-high seven rebounds. Gallagher added 10 points and five rebounds, while Martin pitched in nine points and three steals.
With the victory, Bradley improves to 5-8 overall and 1-2 in the Missouri Valley Conference. Evansville, meanwhile, falls to 3-10 overall and 0-2 in the Valley. The Purple Aces will go in search of their first MVC victory on Saturday afternoon at 1:05 p.m., as UE will travel to Cedar Falls, Iowa to take on the University of Northern Iowa Panthers (5-9, 1-2 MVC). Northern Iowa knocked off Southern Illinois, 64-43, on Thursday night. Saturday’s game can be heard live on 91.5 F.M.-WUEV.
