(From Bradley University) - Sophomore guard Catie O’Leary got Bradley off to a hot start, hitting 6-of-9 shots in the first half and keyed a 20-2 first-half run with seven consecutive points to help spark the Braves to a convincing 93-64 win against Western Illinois Wednesday at Renaissance Coliseum.
Bradley (9-3 overall) matched a school record with its ninth non-conference victory of the year and scored in the 90’s in back-to-back games for the first time since the 1998-99 season. The Braves shot 61.8 percent from the field in the first half and raced out to a 51-27 lead at the break.
The win was BU’s fifth straight, marking the longest win streak since a six-game win streak in January 2010. O’Leary knocked down 6-of-9 three-pointers and finished with a career and game-high 29 points. Junior Katie Yohn scored 11 points in just 15 minutes to help pace four Bradley players in double figures.
Valencia Kelly led Western Illinois in scoring with 18 points, while Sadie Webb added 14 points. Michele Salvatori hauled down eight boards to pace the Leathernecks on the glass and joined Kelly and Webb in double figures with 11 points. Western Illinois came into the game averaging nearly seven made three-pointers a game, but made just 2-of-13 (15.4 percent) from beyond the arc.
The Braves continue their four-game home stand next Thursday (Dec. 29), hosting Missouri Valley Conference preseason favorite Missouri State in a 7 p.m. game at Renaissance Coliseum in the conference opener for both teams.
