Braves slip by Sycamores behind second half rally

by Emma Walker – News Editor

PEORIA, Ill. Kennedy Claybrooks delivered a standout performance with a team-high‍ 16 points and a career-high⁤ 11 assists, achieving ⁢her ⁣first career​ double-double Sunday afternoon. Though, Indiana State’s pursuit of a road conference victory was thwarted by Bradley,‌ 79-74, inside Renaissance Coliseum.

Samiyah Briggs contributed 15 points, matching her season high, while Jayci Allen added 14 points and a ⁤season-best nine⁤ rebounds off the bench.Claybrooks also showcased her defensive‍ prowess with five rebounds and a game-high four steals for⁤ the Sycamores.

Indiana State started the ⁣game with ‌a hot shooting⁢ display, connecting on five of their first⁤ seven⁤ three-point attempts to establish an eight-point lead late in​ the second ⁣quarter. Bradley managed to narrow the gap to within one ⁢possession by halftime, but the Blue and White responded with the first five points of the third quarter, briefly regaining their momentum. However,⁣ the home team closed the third quarter with a dominant 20-6 run, taking ​a 61-54 lead. Indiana State battled back in⁤ the fourth, initiating a 9-0 ‌run to regain the⁢ lead at 63-61, ⁣and⁤ maintained a lead with under three minutes remaining. Ultimately, Bradley closed ⁤the game on a 7-2 run, securing the 79-74 victory as Indiana ​State ⁣struggled to score in the final minutes.

first Half

The Sycamores came out firing, with early three-pointers from Briggs and Da’Naria Washington, coupled with a layup​ from Claybrooks, forcing ​an early bradley timeout. Kayla Smith joined the three-point barrage, and baskets from Claybrooks and Amerie Flowers helped the Blue and White maintain their advantage midway through ‍the quarter.Bradley⁤ recovered, but late baskets ⁤from Briggs and Allen leveled the score ‌at 19-all after the first quarter.

Layups from Briggs and Clemisha prackett kept indiana State competitive early in ​the second quarter,and a three-pointer from⁣ Allen gave the ‍Blue and white a four-point lead. Flowers, Prackett, and Allen ‌continued to contribute offensively, with Allen adding another three-pointer to extend the Sycamores’ lead to 35-27 with just under four minutes remaining in the period. Bradley mounted a late charge, but Indiana State entered halftime with a 37-34 lead.

Second Half

Indiana State demonstrated a strong start to the third ‌quarter, a contrast to recent performances. smith converted three early ‌free throws, and⁤ Briggs added a pair of baskets,‌ pushing the Sycamores ‍ahead 44-39. Layups from Washington and‌ Briggs extended the lead to 48-41. Though, the momentum shifted as ⁤Bradley closed the quarter on a 20-6⁣ run, taking a 61-54 lead into the final frame. Claybrooks⁢ managed a late three-pointer, but it was the onyl basket for the Blue and White ‌in the last five minutes of the⁤ quarter.

Indiana State responded with a ‍strong start to the fourth quarter, with ‍layups from Flowers and Briggs quickly closing‌ the gap. A three-pointer from Kelsey capped a 9-0 run, putting ‍Indiana⁣ State back in front‌ 63-61, and a three-point⁤ play by Claybrooks maintained the momentum. baskets from Allen and Prackett kept the‌ Sycamores level late in ​the game,‍ but they were unable ‌to convert down the stretch. Bradley secured the 79-74 victory with a 7-2 run ‌in the final two ​minutes, as Indiana State managed only one basket in that span.

News and Notes

  • Kennedy Claybrooks recorded a career-high 11 assists ​alongside ​her season-high 16 points, achieving her first career double-double.​ This was⁢ the first points-assists⁢ double-double by a Sycamore since Deja ⁢Jones against Illinois State on Feb. 13,‍ 2025.
  • Jayci Allen’s 14 ‍points marked ⁢her highest scoring output in a conference game this season,and her nine rebounds were a ⁤season-high in‍ a Sycamore uniform.
  • Samiyah Briggs matched‌ her season-high point total with 15 points.
  • Indiana State held a 35-27​ rebounding advantage and limited Bradley to just two offensive rebounds.
  • The Sycamores recorded 13 steals, their most against a ⁤Division I opponent this season,‍ and the second time in the last three games they’ve achieved double-digit steals.
  • Indiana State’s 19 assists were their most‍ against a Division I opponent this⁤ season and their highest total in ⁢a conference ⁣game⁣ as recording 20 assists in a ‍win over Southern ⁤Illinois on Feb. 9, 2025.
  • The sycamores shot a season-best​ 46.7% from three-point range, going 7-for-15, matching their performance⁤ in​ their home-opening win over Eastern Illinois on Nov. ⁣11, 2025.
  • Indiana State ⁤shot a season-best 92.9% from the free-throw line, converting 13 of 14 ‌attempts.
  • Indiana‌ State‌ outscored Bradley in bench points (26-10), fastbreak points (15-13), ⁢second-chance points (8-4), ⁢and points in the paint (32-22). They also matched Bradley in⁢ points off ⁤turnovers (12-12).
  • Indiana State either tied or outscored Bradley in three ⁤of the four quarters,but⁣ were outscored 27-17 in the third ‍quarter,which proved to be the deciding factor.

Up ⁢Next

indiana State will return home to play three of their next four games inside Hulman Center, beginning with ​a Thursday night clash ‌against ‍Belmont at 7 p.m.

Follow the Sycamores

For the latest details on Sycamore Basketball, visit​ GoSycamores.com. You can also ⁤find the team on social media, including ⁢ Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. fans can also receive ⁣updates on Sycamore Athletics by downloading the March On App from both‍ the App Store and the Google Play ​Store.

– MarchOn –

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