PEORIA, Ill. -- Bradley had five players score in double figures and scored 40 points in transition as the Braves routed NCAA Division II foe Lindenwood 93-58 Thursday night at Renaissance Coliseum in BU's lone exhibition game of the 2012-13 season.
The Braves forced 30 Lindenwood turnovers and came away with 18 steals, while shooting 53 percent from the field in the convincing victory. Senior Brooke Bisping (Morton, Ill./Morton) collected seven points and seven rebounds in the opening half, finishing the evening with game highs of 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting to go with eight boards, four assists and two steals.
Bradley scored the first four points of the game and limited the Lions to just one field goal in the first five and a half minutes of the contest, racing out to a 9-3 advantage. Bisping later scored six of her 14 points during an 11-0 BU run over a two-minute stretch as the Braves lead was quickly pushed to 22 points (33-11) with eight minutes left in the first half.
After BU took a 46-22 lead into the half, Lindenwood scored the first two hoops of the second period before Bradley outscored the Lions 25-7 over the next eight minutes to build a commanding 71-33 lead. Bisping scored seven points during the spurt as Bradley extended the lead to as many as 39 points midway through the half and cruised to the 93-58 win.
All 12 Bradley players which saw the floor scored. Junior Kelly Frings (Milwaukee, Wis./Pius XI) matched Bisping for game-high honors with 14 points, coming off the bench to make 6-of-7 shots from the field. Sophomore Shronda Butts (Des Moines, Iowa/East) scored 10 of her 13 points in the opening period, while senior Katie Yohn (Elgin, Ill./St. Edward) and junior Kelsey Budd (Prairie du Sac, Wis./Sauk Prairie) each added 10 points.
The Braves held Lindenwood to 40 percent shooting and outrebounded the Lions 45-35. In addition to the strong shooting night, BU hauled down 20 offensive boards and scored 36 points off the 30 Lindenwood turnovers.
Caroline Bourlioux led the Lions with 12 points and was joined in double figures by Tori Kuhn (11 points) and Julie Hlinak (10 points).
Bradley opens the 2012-13 season at Renaissance Coliseum, hosting 2011-12 WNIT participant Central Michigan Friday, Nov. 9 at 11 a.m. The contest against the Chippewas will be Field Trip Day presented by Applebee's, with free admission for local grade school students, school staff and chaperones.
