PEORIA, Ill. – Indiana State had five players score in double figures, out-rebounded Bradley and, for 35 minutes, played one of its best games all season.
 
Ashli O'Neal led all scorers with 21 points while Ty Battle recorded her second career double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Regan Wentland (14 points), Alexis Delgado (13) and Tamara Lee (11) also reached double figures.
 
But, in a stunning turn of events, the Sycamores (10-11, 4-6 Missouri Valley) let a double-figure lead over Bradley slip away in an 81-80 loss to the host Braves (16-5, 6-4) Friday night at Renaissance Coliseum in Peoria.
 
The cruel twist of fate came from a late Bradley run over the final half of the final quarter in which fortunes were dramatically changed on a dime. Indiana State, then shooting over 46 percent from the field, abruptly went cold, finishing the game just 1-for-5 from the field. And a performance which had only seen seven turnovers through 35 minutes witnessed another 10 over the final five minutes of play.
 
As that lead – a margin of as many as 17 points – began to diminish, Bradley gained momentum. The hosts shot nearly 56 percent over the final five minutes, slowly climbing back into contention.
 
Yet, Bradley continually left the door open for Indiana State to stand tall as the Braves shot just 65 percent from the free throw line and missing the front end of their two free throw attempts on four separate occasions in the fourth quarter.
 
Then the missed shots and turnovers turned into Bradley points. While Bradley was led by Gabi Haack's 20 points, it was Lasha Petree's fourth quarter performance that was just as, if not more, calamitous. In less than a minute late in the game Petree would score 13 consecutive points to pull the Braves within one.
 
Continual trips to the free throw line gave Bradley the chance to pull away but they would routinely miss the front end of each set of two free throw shots to keep ISU within reach. Bradley would only lead by as much as two in the final quarter after Shunseere Kent's free throw with 25 seconds left.
 
Ty Battle would even the score with eight seconds remaining on a jumper in the paint off an assist by Alexis Delgado but a foul on the inbound pass sent Bradley back to the line. Petree, true to form for Bradley in the quarter, missed the first shot but hit the second.
 
One final chance for salvation for Indiana State was abruptly taken away with a Chelsea Brackmann steal with two seconds left in the game. Brackmann would score 17 points for Bradley while Kent added 11.
 
Indiana State will now head to Normal, Illinois to face Illinois State on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET/2 p.m. CT.
 
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