Erin Keeney scored a career-high 20 points for Illinois State, but Bradley dominated the middle portion of the game and built a 32-point lead on the way to an 87-71 win over the Redbirds Thursday in Peoria.
Katie Donovan had 22 points, and Taren OBrien had 18 points and 5 steals for the game, but the Birds were out-scored the Redbirds 17-5 in the final 10 minutes of the first half thanks to a combination of Bradley offensive rebounds (11 by halftime) and ISU turnovers (15 in the first 18 minutes). Bradley led 33-23 at halftime and scored the first nine points of the second half, stretching its run to 37-6 from the four-minute mark of the first half until Keeney hit a pair of free throws with 9:27 left and then hit a three-pointer 40 seconds later.
Illinois State put on a run in the final 10 minutes, slicing Bradley biggest lead, 61-29, to as few as 14 in the final three minutes behind the scoring of Keeney, Donovan and OBrien. But Bradley was 24 of 34 from the free throw line in the second half.
Illinois State falls to 15-11 overall, 9-8 in the Valley with its third straight loss. The Braves are 8-18, 6-11 in the conference and clinched a spot in the State Farm-Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. The Redbirds are assured of either the No. 4 or No. 5 seed.
Redbird coach Robin Pingeton saluted Bradleys intensity.
Bradley played with emotion and intensity, said Pingeton. They were the warriors tonight. We as coaches have to do a better job of preparing our players.
But Keeney disagreed with her coach and expects that she and her teammates will have a different approach for Saturdays regular-season finale at Northern Iowa, a 60-58 winner Thursday over Indiana State.
That wasnt how weve played all year, said Keeney, who hit four three-pointers for the bulk of her 20 points. We werent together. They attacked and we didnt. Coach (Pingeton) says its on her shoulders, but she cant play for us. Its on us as players. We need to let this (loss) hurt and be mad and be motivated for Saturday. Were going to come back and fight and show what were made of.
The Redbird defense kept ISU around in the early minutes as the lead changed hands seven times. Back-to-back steals and layups by Taren OBrien and Jaci McCormack gave the Birds an 18-16 lead with 11:03 left in the half. But Williams started to dominate the offense, scoring 11 of Bradleys last 17 points in the first half, giving the Braves a 10-point lead with 33 seconds left on a basket-and-one three-point play. Over the final 10 minutes of the first half, Illinois State was 3-12 from the field and committed nine turnovers. While Bradley made eight of its first 13 shots in the second half, the Birds continued to struggle with 2-15 from the field and seven more turnovers in the first 10 minutes of the second half.
The final 10 minutes, the Redbirds battled back, hitting 14 of 29 field goals and 6 of 13 three-pointers while committing only one turnover and out-rebounding Bradley 14-10. ISU trimmed that lead by more than half, getting as close as 74-59 with 2:47 left on Donovans three-pointer. But Bradley began hitting free throws and maintained a comfortable margin.
Genny Mueller led Bradley with 26 points and Williams added 20 points and 15 rebounds as the Braves won the rebounding battle 46-38. Jen Brown had 10 points, 8 assists and 5 steals for the Braves.
The Redbirds finish the regular season with a 3:05 p.m. game Saturday at Northern Iowa before playing at 8:30 p.m. Thursday in the State Farm-Missouri Valley Conference Tournament at Hammons Student Center in Springfield, Mo. Illinois State will be the fifth seed and play either Indiana State or Drake.
