SUNDAY'S SCORES
Western Illinois 62, @Bradley 41
WESTERN ILLINOIS 62, BRADLEY 41
PEORIA, Ill. - Western Illinois Women's Basketball emerged victorious with a commanding performance, defeating the Bradley Braves 62-41 at the Renaissance Coliseum. The win improved Western Illinois' season record to 5-1 as they continued their strong start in non-conference play.
The Leathernecks established dominance early, outscoring Bradley 17-8 in the first quarter. Their defense held firm throughout, limiting Bradley to single-digit scoring in the opening quarter and just 11 points per quarter for the rest of the game. Western Illinois showcased it's defensive prowess with 11 steals and 30 rebounds, overpowering Bradley's total of 32 rebounds.
Raegan McCowan delivered an impressive double-double with 18 points and 13 rebounds, while Mallory McDermott added 13 points, including three three-pointers. Mia Nicastro contributed with 10 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 steals, reflecting the team's aggressive and opportunistic play.
The Leathernecks capitalized on turnovers, scoring 23 points off Bradley's 15 turnovers while also dominating in the paint with 34 points. Their bench provided solid support, adding 10 points with six of them coming from Kaylen Reed and the team maintained steady pressure throughout the contest.
Bradley struggled to find rhythm offensively, shooting only 27.7% from the field while the Leathernecks shot 41.3% but struggled from three making only three three pointers on 23 attempts.