After the Bradley’s women’s basketball team faced a surprising deficit early in its season-opening exhibition against Division-II McKendree, the Braves used 26 points from fifth-year Gabi Haack and 24 from freshman Caroline Waite to prevail 101-75.
WHO: As expected, it was Haack who paced the Braves in scoring, pouring in four deep balls, two of which helped Bradley extend its lead in the second half. However, Waite was the story of the game, dropping in three after three and finished with six triples in her first taste of collegiate action.
Senior Chloe Rice and sophomore transfer Daija Powell rounded out the Braves in double figures, with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
WHAT: After trailing by as many as six in the first quarter, Bradley was able to stymie the Bearcats more in the second half and take care of business. The Braves shot higher than 50% in every quarter and ended the night with a 54% field goal mark.
The Braves have now hit the century mark each of the last three seasons, the last being a 104-53 triumph over Quincy on Dec. 18, 2020.
WHEN: Dating back to last season, the Braves are 6-1 in their last seven games. Ahead next on the schedule for Bradley is a home date with Wright State on Nov. 9.
The Raiders finished last season 19-8 and earned an NCAA Tournament berth, upsetting 4-seed Arkansas before bowing out to the MVC’s very own Missouri State Bears in the second round.
WHERE: Bradley’s win was the prelude to the men’s exhibition at Carver Arena. The last time that the Braves’ women’s team played downtown was Nov. 15, 2013 against Stony Brook. The Seawolves prevailed over the hosts 83-79.
Head coach Andrea Gorski’s team will return to Renaissance Coliseum against Wright State, where they went 9-5 last season, for their remaining home games in 2021-22.
WHY:
- Gorski on what their goals were in the preseason exhibition game: “We have eight new players. How do they play with each other?. . . I think 21 assists shows that they’ve made some really good strides learning how to play with new teammates.”
- Gorski on the Braves’ defensive struggles due to McKendree’s small lineup: “I think defensively, we got a long way to go. I was worried about it going in and I’m still really worried about it. It’s hard; they had five guards out there and [we were] trying to have our posts chase them which is not a great matchup at all.
- Waite on her relationship with leading scorer Gabi Haack: “I mean before I knew she was coming back I would ask the coaches ‘Is she staying? Is she staying?’ because I really wanted to play with her and I was really excited. She’s just a great person to look up to on and off the court.”
- Gorski on if she was surprised by Waite’s offensive explosion: “No. Honestly I was just telling her I’m mad when Caroline misses a three. It’s like someone else missing a layup. I know she’s a phenomenal shooter but what people don’t understand about her is how she sees the floor, she makes her teammates better [and] she knows the next pass.”
