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By ISU Sports Information
NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State Women’s Basketball dropped to the Bradley Braves 62-42 in the MVC home opener.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Both teams were defensively strong to open the game and were scoreless in the first three minutes. Simone Goods put the Redbirds on the board with a layup with 6:27 in the first. Bradley responded as Shunseere Kent put the ball in for two and the game was on. Bradley pulled a 10-6 lead with less than two minutes remaining in the first. Six seconds until the buzzer and Viria Livingston found Megan Talbot for three. Redbirds trailed 10-9 to conclude the first quarter.
Bradley put in four points to lead early in the second. Goods was fouled at the basket and went 2-for-2 at the charity stripe to tighten the gap 14-11. The Redbirds tied the game three times in the second quarter, but Bradley finished the half on top 28-22.
Bradley intensified their defensive efforts in the third quarter and the Redbirds fell behind 42-25. Illinois State would not be able to make a comeback and the Redbirds would drop the MVC opener 62-42.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Goods led the Redbirds with a double-double scoring 22 points and grabbing 14 rebounds.
- Megan Talbot followed with six points and four rebounds.
- Paige Saylor continues to be a stealing threat as she snuck away with three steals today.
- Ajai Simmons scored her first collegiate basket today as she went 1-for-1 from the field.
- Bradley had two players off the bench score in double digits – Nyjah White (12) Chelsea Brackmann (10).
- Kent led the Braves with 15 points.
What’s Next
The Redbirds begin a two-game road swing on Friday at Valparaiso and head to the Windy City on Sunday to face Loyola.