Box Score PEORIA, Ill. -- Bradley had a 10-point lead on Chicago State with 11 minutes to go in the second half, but the Braves went cold from the field; making just two of 16 shots down the stretch as the visiting Cougars rallied to pull out a 62-59 victory Thursday afternoon at Renaissance Coliseum.
Bradley recovered from a slow start to go on a 12-2 run to take a 12-6 lead less than five minutes into the contest. The Braves led by as many as seven (22-15) in the opening period, before Chicago State chipped away at the Bradley lead and hit a buzzer-beater to end the half which cut the BU lead to 32-31 at the break.
The Braves made just two of 16 from the field over the final nine and a half minutes. Chicago State made a pair of free throws next trip down the floor and the Cougars followed a BU shot clock violation with a
Layne Murphy (Country Club Hills, Ill./Rich Central) layup with 3:21 left to take a 60-58 lead.
Whitney Tinjum split a pair of free throws with 3:05 on the clock to cut the Chicago State lead to one (60-59). The Braves came up empty on the next four possessions and Murphy split a pair of free throws for the Cougars with 27.0 seconds to play to make it a two-point Chicago State lead at 61-59.
A Bradley three-point attempt was off the mark and Chicago State split another pair of free throws with 8.5 seconds left. A last-second three-pointer by the Braves was short as the Cougars held on for the 62-59 road win.
The Cougars countered with 55 percent shooting, including 56.3 percent from the field in the second half. Chicago State outrebounded the Braves 38-33.
Young paced three Bradley players in double figures with 16 points. Tinjum added 10 points in 23 minutes in the loss.
Paris Williams (St. Louis, Mo./Pattonville) led Chicago State with 16 points, while
Konner Harris (Sidney, Ohio/Sidney) added 13 points of her own in 39 minutes of action. Murphy finished with 12 points and a team-high nine rebounds for the Cougars.
