The Bradley women’s basketball team (6-23, 2-16 MVC) went into last weekend hoping to end a six-game losing streak but came up unsuccessful. The Braves went on the road against Missouri State (20-7,14-4 MVC) on Thursday and Southern Illinois (9-19, 4-14 MVC) on Saturday. Due to offensive struggles, both games ended in double-digit losses.
Bears handle business
Bradley started Thursday’s game cold on the offensive end, a theme that has been present in most of their losses this season. The Braves scored their first bucket on a layup from junior guard Nika Dorsey at 8:06. After that, Bradley didn’t score until 1:17 left in the quarter. By then, Missouri State held a 25-5 lead, and the game was all but over.
“I think our slow starts have plagued us,” head coach Kate Popovec-Goss said. “At this point in the season, I didn’t sense a lot of energy and a lot of confidence.”
“We’re trying to reframe our mindset,” Popvec-Goss added. “It’s an opportunity to compete every day and do something you enjoy and love, but it would be unrealistic not to acknowledge that the team has been through so much adversity. I’m looking for a little more toughness in responding to that adversity.”
After a timeout late in the first quarter, the Braves competed much better. Bradley lost the second quarter by six points and the third and fourth quarters by two, a stark difference from their performance in the first quarter.
Dorsey and senior forward Isis Fitch led the Braves with ten points each as the team fell 70-44.
Poock erupts
Freshman guard Halli Poock has been electric this season and will likely be a candidate for Freshman of the Year in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC). She continued her success in the Braves’ game versus Southern Illinois, pouring in 29 points on 61% shooting and knocking down five threes.
Poock accounted for nearly 54% of Bradley’s points against the Salukis, but it was not enough. The rest of the team shot 17%, and the Braves were defeated 70-54.
“I think this season has been a learning experience for Halli,” Popovec-Goss said. “She’s gotten a glimpse of what the next three years are going to look like with the ball in her hands.”
“The thing I love the most is she’s not concerned about the freshman records,” Popovec-Goss added. She’s tired of losing and disappointed in losing. She wants to win and came here to help us win.”
Bradley is back in action versus Belmont at home tonight, looking to snap their eight-game losing streak.
