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CHARLESTON, Ill. - Eastern Illinois had four starters score in double figures but the Panthers were outscored 13-4 in second chance points as EIU fell to Bradley, 77-72, on Kid's Day at Lantz Arena. The game was played in front of 1,886 fans.
The Panthers (1-3) built an early first half lead on strong outside shooting as Sydney Mitchell and Kelsey Wyss each knocked down 3-pointers in the opening minutes. Bradley would counter with back-to-back buckets by Raisa Taylor as the Braves used an 8-0 run to built a 17-10 lead. Bradley was able to keep the margin at seven or greater for most of the first half extending it as high 18 on a free throw by Lauren Niemiera with just over a minute remaining.
Bradley (2-2) shot 54 percent from the floor and 54 percent from 3-point range in the first half to build a 41-25 lead. Taylor scored 11 of her game high 22 in the first half for the Braves as they sank 6-of-11 from beyond the arc.
EIU started to chip away at the lead in the second half as Chantelle Pressley cut it to single digits at 55-46 with 10:18 left to play as she sank a pair of free throws. The Panthers were able to drive the ball into the paint and draw fouls as they were 13-of-17 from the free throw line in the second half.
Mitchell trimmed the lead to five points with a jumper in the paint at the 7:23 mark to end a 13-1 EIU run and pulled the Panthers to within 56-51. Taylor would sink one of two free throws and Niemiera converted a lay-up as Bradley extended the lead back to double figures with 3:42 left to play. Hanna Muegge scored six straight points in the run on a 3-pointer and three free throws.
The Panthers cut the margin to five one more time on Wyss 3-pointer at 1:05. EIU fouled Taylor on the inbounds pass and the senior missed the first of a one-and-one opportunity but the loose ball rebound bounced out of bounds in favor of the Braves. EIU would have to foul in the final minute with Bradley making five of six attempts. Wyss drained a 3-pointer in the final seconds to finish with 15 points on 3-of-4 shooting from 3-point range.
EIU limited Bradley to just 39 percent shooting in the second half but the Braves ended the day with a 39-29 rebound margin including 15 offensive boards. MacKenzie Westcott and Muegge each added 14 points for Bradley.
Mariah King led the Panthers with 16 points while Pressley added 15 and Mitchell chipped in 10. Pilar Walker just missed a double-double with nine points and ten assists.
EIU will return to action on Friday at 4 p.m. when they play UNC Greensboro in the opening round of the Miami (Fla.) Thanksgiving Classic.
