PEORIA, Ill. ? Junior forward Jenny Van Kirk (Waconia, Minn./Waconia) scored 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting to help lead the Bradley women's basketball team to a 77-69 victory against Lewis in the Braves exhibition opener Sunday night at Lorene Ramsey Gym.

Bradley struggled offensively in the early going, hitting just five of its first 24 shots (20.8 percent) from the field to start the game and fell behind by nine points in the first 10 minutes of the contest. The Braves were able to get back on track, using a 16-6 run to take a 27-26 lead with 4:49 to play in the first half.

Seniors Kelly Krumwiede (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West) and Monica Rogers (Forsyth, Ill./St. Teresa/Hampton) along with freshman MacKenzie Westcott (Williamsburg, Iowa/Williamsburg) each scored four points during BU's 16-6 run. The trio helped Bradley connect on 13-of-21 (61.9 percent) to close the half and a 37-33 halftime lead.

Jenny Turpel scored 12 points in the first 8:06 of the second half to help the Flyers pull back to within one point at 51-50. The Braves tightened things defensively, holding Lewis scoreless for nearly four minutes as BU extended its lead to eight points on a Van Kirk jumper with 8:03 to play.

Lewis got back to within four points (58-54) with seven minutes remaining when junior Renee Frericks (Wyoming, Minn./Forest Lake) knocked down one of her three three-pointers on the night to push the Braves' advantage back to seven points (61-54).

Bradley led 72-64 with just over two minutes to play, when Krumwiede would help put the game out of reach. Krumwiede split a pair of free throws and knocked down a shot following a Van Kirk steal to push the Braves lead to 75-64 with 1:35 remaining as Bradley would hold on for the 77-69 victory.

Van Kirk collected 11 points, three rounds, four assists, one blocked shot and two steals in the second half. After the cold start to the contest, the Braves hit 29 of their last 54 shots (53.7 percent). Krumwiede joined Van Kirk in double figures with 11 points and also added 10 rebounds and five assists. Freshman guard Michelle Lund (Sioux City, Iowa/Bishop Heelan) finished with 11 points and six assists in her Bradley debut.

Five of Bradley's eight newcomers played in the exhibition opener, combining for 27 points, 16 rebounds, 12 assists and three steals. The Braves shot 43.6 percent from the field and outrebounded the Flyers 42-37, while committing just 15 turnovers. Bradley collected 20 offensive rebounds and turned that into an 18-5 edge in second chance points.

Turpel led Lewis with 26 points on 9-of-14 shooting and also added nine rebounds and five blocked shots. Kelly Dianis was also in double figures, finishing with 10 points to go along with five steals. The Flyers shot 47.1 percent, but couldn't overcome 25 turnovers and trailed the Braves 32-13 in points off turnovers.

Bradley plays its final exhibition game next Sunday, when the Braves play host to Truman State at 1:05 p.m. at Carver Arena to a open a men's and women's basketball doubleheader.