(From Bradley University) - Senior MacKenzie Westcott matched a season-high with 15 points and was one of two Bradley players to turn in double-doubles as BU topped Southern Illinois 66-50 Saturday afternoon at Renaissance Coliseum.
The Braves (13-10 overall, 4-7 MVC) won their eighth consecutive game in the series against SIU and claimed their third straight home victory with the win. Bradley pulled down a season-high 55 rebounds, the team’s highest total since collecting 58 boards at Missouri State on Dec. 29, 2001, and outrebounded the Salukis 55-33 for the team’s largest rebounding margin in a game since Dec. 8, 2007 against Toledo (+26).
Westcott was 11-for-15 at the free throw line, tying a career-high for free throw attempts, and finished with her fifth double-double of the season (15 points & 13 rebounds). Senior Leah Kassing collected 12 points and 11 boards in the second half to finish with her team-leading 10th double-double of the year (13 points & 11 rebounds).
Bradley shot 30.5 percent from the field, but made a season-high 26 free throws and finished 26-of-34 (76.5 percent) from the line. BU’s starters were a combined 11-for-43 from the field (25.6 percent) with the reserves making 7-of-15 shots. Hanna Muegge scored 11 points off the bench on 4-for-4 shooting, helping the BU reserves outscore the SIU bench 23-14.
Cartaesha Macklin led Southern Illinois with 12 points and four assists. SIU entered the game averaging 6.6 three-pointers per game, but made just 2-of-17 three-point attempts (11.8 percent) and shot 30.4 percent from the field overall.
Bradley returns to action Friday, playing a 6 p.m. game at Indiana State. WIRL 1290 AM will carry the game with the pre-game show scheduled to start at 5:40 p.m.
