VALPARAISO, Ind. (Interstat) — The Bradley women’s basketball team delivered a commanding performance Thursday night, defeating Valparaiso 80-44 at the Athletics-Recreation Center. The Braves seized control early, building a 40-15 halftime lead behind a 26-point second quarter. Bradley’s defense was relentless, forcing 21 turnovers and converting them into 18 points. Kaylen Nelson and Tamia Perryman each scored 18 points to lead the Braves. Kayla Preston led Valparaiso with 15 points. Bradley improved to 9-6 overall. Valparaiso remains winless at 0-16.

VALPARAISO, Ind. (Interstat) — The Bradley Braves delivered a dominant wire-to-wire performance on Thursday night, overwhelming the struggling Valparaiso Beacons 80-44 in a Missouri Valley Conference women’s basketball game at the Athletics-Recreation Center. From the opening tip, Bradley established a commanding lead that never wavered. The Braves opened the game on a 14-0 run, holding Valparaiso scoreless for the first six minutes and sixteen seconds. Kaylen Nelson, a sophomore from Tulsa, Oklahoma, set the tone with an early 3-pointer and finished with a game-high 18 points in just 18 minutes of play. Her backcourt partner, Tamia Perryman of Indianapolis, matched that scoring output with 18 points of her own, adding two assists. The first quarter proved decisive. Bradley’s stifling defense limited Valparaiso to a mere four points on 2-of-15 shooting while forcing seven Beacon turnovers. The Braves capitalized, scoring 14 points in the period and building a lead that would only grow. Bradley’s offense found its full rhythm in the second quarter, exploding for 26 points. The Braves shot efficiently from the field and from beyond the arc, stretching their halftime advantage to 40-15. The defensive pressure remained relentless, with Bradley tallying 15 steals for the game, leading to 18 points off 21 Valparaiso turnovers. The Braves’ depth was on full display throughout the contest. Micah Cooper of Carrollton, Texas, contributed 10 points, while Maya Foz of Mississauga, Canada, added 12 points off the bench. Bradley’s ball movement was sharp, resulting in 15 assists on 31 made field goals. Valparaiso, still searching for its first win of the season, showed brief sparks after halftime, scoring 17 points in the third quarter. Kayla Preston of Omaha, Nebraska, led the Beacons with 15 points and a block. Fiona Connolly added nine points and two assists. However, the team’s offensive struggles were pervasive; they shot just 32.1 percent from the field and a dismal 12.5 percent from 3-point range. Bradley maintained its intensity in the final period, cruising to the 36-point victory. The Braves improved their season record to 9-6 overall and evened their conference mark. Valparaiso fell to 0-16, extending a difficult start to the season. Statistically, Bradley controlled nearly every facet. They out-rebounded Valparaiso 42-34, scored 30 points in the paint, and posted an offensive rating of 105.8 points per 100 possessions compared to Valparaiso’s 59.4. The Beacons were held to their second-lowest scoring total of the season. The most important part of the game was unquestionably the opening segment. Bradley’s immediate and overwhelming 14-0 run, fueled by defensive stops and efficient scoring, established a psychological and numerical chasm from which Valparaiso could never recover. It transformed the contest from a conference matchup into a demonstration of control, allowing Bradley to deploy its roster liberally and coast to a comfortable road victory. Bradley looks to build on this momentum when it hosts Indiana State on Sunday. Valparaiso will try to break into the win column on the road at Southern Illinois on Saturday.

VALPARAISO, Ind. (Interstat) — A Bradley team seeking consistency will face a Valparaiso squad desperate for its first win when the Missouri Valley Conference women’s basketball foes meet Thursday night at the Athletics-Recreation Center. The visiting Braves (8-6) enter the contest following a taxing 93-82 double-overtime loss at Murray State on Sunday. Bradley has alternated wins and losses over its last six games. The Beacons (0-15), meanwhile, are one of two remaining winless teams in NCAA Division I, enduring a season defined by offensive struggles and lopsided defeats. Bradley’s hopes will lean heavily on forward Amy O’Hara, who is coming off a strong all-around performance at Murray State with 13 points, three assists and five blocks in 37 minutes. Over her last four games, O’Hara has averaged 8.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks. She will be complemented by guard Maya Foz, who erupted for a career-high 29 points in the double-overtime defeat. Valparaiso’s offense runs primarily through guard Allia von Schlegell, the team’s consistent scoring threat. She is averaging 15.7 points per game over her last six contests, including a 19-point effort in a 66-46 loss at Evansville on Saturday. However, the Beacons have failed to crack 70 points in any game this season and are allowing opponents an average of 75.9 points per game. The matchup presents a stark contrast in momentum. Bradley, despite its .500 league start, has shown the ability to win close games, as evidenced by a 62-61 victory at Northern Kentucky last month. Valparaiso has lost 10 of its 15 games by double digits, with its narrowest defeat being a seven-point loss to SIU Edwardsville in December. Historically, Bradley has controlled the series, winning the last seven meetings. The teams will meet again in Peoria, Illinois, on Jan. 23. For Valparaiso, the search for any positive momentum is urgent as conference play deepens. For Bradley, the game represents a critical opportunity to secure a road victory and build stability before a challenging stretch that includes games against Drake and Northern Iowa next week. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST Thursday.