PEORIA, Ill. – Sycamore women's basketball fell on the road at Bradley on Sunday afternoon, 91-75, despite a career-high from Jamyra McChristine.
 
McChristine was the unquestioned leader on the floor for the blue and white, as the junior forward ended her day with a career-high 19 points while also pulling down nine rebounds. Three other Sycamores ended in double-figures, including Marie Hunter (13), CeCe Mayo (13) and Sommer Pitzer (10).
 
The Trees faced a tough challenge on the boards in Peoria, with Bradley boasting the best rebounder in the Missouri Valley Conference in Chelsea Brackmann. ISU managed to fight on the boards, however, and outrebound the Braves, 35-26.
 
Both teams shot well from the field, but BU held the edge, partially thanks to 36 points from Lasha Petree. As a team, Bradley ended the game shooting 57.6% and 47.4% from deep while Indiana State shot 45.6% and 54.5% from three-point land.
 
It was a fast start offensively for both teams, with Bradley's first points coming at 9:20 and McChristine answering for the Sycamores on the next possession. The junior forward would muscle-up All-Valley forward Brackmann twice and earn the first four points for the blue and white. However, Bradley would take a 13-6 lead into the first media break thanks to seven points from Gabi Haack.
 
Right out of the media timeout, Jasmine Elder connected on a long three from the wing to pull the Sycamores to within four, but nine first quarter turnovers would plague the Trees, allowing Bradley to finish the period on a 13-4 run. The Braves held a 26-13 advantage at the conclusion of the first.
 
Bradley's offense caught fire to begin the second period, pushing their lead to 17 almost immediately. McChristine managed to spark a mini-run for the blue and white, picking a Brave pocket at the top of the key for an easy layup at the other end. A Hattie Westerfeld driving lay-in and another McChristine layup would cut the lead back down to 13, but BU's Lasha Petree caught fire and tallied 20 first half points, helping Bradley to a 46-27 lead at the half.
 
Indiana State turned up the heat in the paint in a third quarter that featured no shortage of offense. Juniors Mayo and McChristine were a big part of why the Sycamores played an even quarter with BU, as McChristine was all over the floor, earning a rejection over Emily Marsh and keeping a play alive to cut the lead to 18 with 7:21 remaining.
 
Mayo did an excellent job of sharing the ball, finding Caitlin Anderson and Hunter multiple times for layups throughout the period. With 2:11 to go in the frame, Hunter and Mayo knocked down back-to-back threes to bring ISU back within 18. Both teams ended the third with 27 points, the highest scoring output for ISU in a quarter this season. The Trees also out-rebounded Bradley 11-6 in the third frame.
 
The Trees wasted no time getting the offense rolling to start the final period, with Del'Janae Williams knocking down her first three with 9:11 left in the game to cut the lead to 75-58. While Bradley would push their lead back up to 22, Elder provided a much-needed spark off the bench. The freshman managed to find Pitzer in the corner for a triple with 7:20 go after bringing down an offensive board and then found McChristine in the lane for an easy layup after getting Petree in the air, making it 81-65 in favor of BU. Indiana State would continue to battle, outscoring BU 21-18 in the fourth, but Bradley would earn a 91-75 victory.
 
After their victory, Bradley improved to 11-2 on the year while Indiana State fell to 2-12. ISU will be back in action next Friday, Jan. 10 when they welcome Valparaiso to Terre Haute.
 
For the latest information on the Sycamore Women's Basketball team, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.