SIU women’s basketball (5-3, 2-1 MVC) lost the first game of its weekend series against the Bradley University Braves (6-4, 2-1 MVC), 77-55, on Jan. 8 at the Renaissance Coliseum.

The Braves got off to a quick start going on a 15-0 run early in the first quarter, which put SIU in a deep hole they could not climb out of.

Senior guard Makenzie Silvey led scoring for the Salukis with 13 points and junior guard Lasha Petree led scoring for the Braves with 23 points, with most of these points were scored in the second half of the game.

Bradley started off the game with a layup from senior forward Nyjah White followed by a 3-pointer from senior guard Gabi Haack.

The Braves continued the scoring run with a layup from Haack making the score 7-0. The run increased with a layup from junior guard Tatum Koenig.

The Salukis ended the 15-point run with a layup from junior guard Payton McCallister and two free throws from senior forward Rachel Pudlowski making the score 15-4.

Southern fought to decrease Bradley’s lead at the end of the first quarter with a 3-pointer from McCallister and layup from Gabby Walker, but the Braves remained ahead, 20-9.

SIU started the second quarter with a basket and two free throws from senior forward Abby Brockmeyer.

The Salukis decreased the lead, 22-18, with a 3-pointer from McCallister and two free throws from junior guard Caitlin Link.

The Braves followed this with a basket from junior guard Chloe Rice assisted by Haack.

With the score at 28-20, a defensive rebound from Brockmeyer led to two free throws from Silvey decreasing the Braves lead to six points.

Both teams were able to score towards the end of the second quarter but efforts from Haack, Rice and freshman forward Isis Fitch kept the lead for the Braves, 40-26.

McCallister led scoring for the Salukis at halftime with eight points and Haack led scoring for the Braves with 10 points.

Bradley started the second half with a free throw and a basket from Lasha Petree.

Southern scored for the first time in the third quarter with a basket and 3-pointer from Silvey putting the score at 43-31.

A foul from Link sent Koenig to the free throw line for the Braves where she made both free throws bringing the score to 51-37.

Despite steady scoring from the Salukis, the Braves maintained their lead throughout the third quarter ending it with a 59-41 lead. 

Bradley started scoring early in the fourth quarter with a basket and layup from Lasha Petree.

This was followed by a basket from Silvey and two free throws from Brockmeyer making the score 65-45.

Lasha Petree continued to lead the Bradley scoring charge in the fourth quarter with two free throws after a foul from Salukis’ sophomore guard Allea Potter.

SIU continued fighting to decrease the Braves lead late in the fourth quarter with scoring from Pudlowski, Potter and Walker making the score 72-52.

Although the Salukis scored steadily in the fourth quarter, it was not enough to steal the lead from the Braves and Bradley took the win, 77-55.

The Salukis will take the court again on Jan. 9 against the Braves at the Renaissance Coliseum. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m.

Staff reporter Janae Mosby can be reached at jmosby@dailyegyptian.com or on Twitter at @mosbyj.

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