PEORIA, Ill. -- First-year Bradley women's basketball head coach Mike Brooks had his full squad on the floor for the first time in 2012-13 as the Braves held a morning workout at Renaissance Coliseum in the team's first official practice of the 2012-13 campaign. 

After making the post-season for the second time in the last three years, Bradley returned eight of 13 letterwinners and three starters from last year's team which finished 18-16 overall and advanced to the second round of the Women's Basketball Invitational (WBI). 

Coming off the second-most wins in school history since playing a full NCAA Division I schedule in 1982-83, Bradley will look to senior guard Katie Yohn (Elgin, Ill./St. Edward) to help lead the way in 2012-13.  The eighth player in school history to score 1,000 career point before the end of their junior season, Yohn ranks 16th in school history with 1,012 career points after averaging 11.2 points per outing last year.

Despite battling injuries during the middle of the Missouri Valley Conference schedule last season, Yohn boasted the third-highest three-point field goal percentage in school history in 2011-12 after shooting 41.6 percent from beyond the arc and enters her final year needing 14 three-pointers to break the Bradley career record for three-point makes. 

Also providing leadership for a roster which features seven underclassmen will be senior guard Brooke Bisping (Morton, Ill./Morton), who has provided a big spark off the bench during her BU career and helped highlight Bradley's WBI opening round win against Tennessee Tech with 11 points, five rebounds, an assist and a steal in 17 minutes off the bench in the come-from-behind victory. 

Boasting one of the top back courts in the MVC, Bradley will also benefit from the return of junior guard Catie O'Leary (Janesville, Wis./Parker/Wisconsin).  The Wisconsin transfer had a big impact in her first season on The Hilltop, leading the team in minutes played and averaging 10.4 points per contest. 

Fellow Wisconsin native Kelsey Budd (Prairie du Sac, Wis./Sauk Prairie) started 23 games at guard for the Braves and led the team in assists.  While a starter much of the season, Budd was one of two players in the country to score 25 or points off the bench twice in 2011-12.

Junior forward Kelly Frings (Milwaukee, Wis./Pius XI) and junior center Alyson Spinas-Valainis (Davenport, Iowa/Assumption) are Bradley's most experienced frontcourt players and will likely see increased playing time.  Frings played a bigger role inside in 2011-12 after setting the Bradley season three-point field goal percentage record as a freshman in 2010-11.  Spinas-Valainis will play a much bigger role for the Braves in the post after the graduation of all-conference performer Leah Kassing.

MVC All-Freshman team honoree Shronda Butts (Des Moines, Iowa/East) will also play a big role for the Braves in the backcourt after a solid rookie campaign.  Butts was a three-time MVC Newcomer of the Week selection in 2011-12 and ended the season on a high note, averaging 11.7 points per game over the last nine contests. 

Like Butts, fellow sophomore Michelle Young (Woodbury, Minn./Woodbury) ended the season strong, scoring a season-high 12 points and collecting three steals in the team's MVC Tournament win against Southern Illinois and will challenge for more time on the court in 2012-13.  

Joining the returning cast of players will be 5-7 freshman guard Fantasia Vine (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton North), who redshirted last year and will have four years of eligibility remaining.  The all-time leading scorer in Wheaton North High School history, Vine will challenge for time in the backcourt after practicing with the Braves throughout the 2011-12 season.

Helping hold down the middle with Spinas-Valainis will be 6-2 freshman center Shelby Mustain (Jefferson City, Mo./Jefferson City).  A two-time all-district selection, Mustain is the first Bradley player from the state of Missouri since all-time leading rebounder Dena Williams (2001-05). 

The backcourt will also benefit from the additions of 5-8 freshman guard Britney Scherber (Prior Lake, Minn./Bloomington Jefferson) and 5-7 guard Taylor Shull (Mt. Pleasant, Iowa/Mt. Pleasant).  The all-time leading scorer at Bloomington Jefferson High School, Scherber took home all-state honors as a senior, averaging 20 points and six assists per outing.  Not to be outdone, Shull scored 1,460 points during her prep career and holds school scoring records for points in a career, season and game.  Shull was a two-time all-state pick.

One of four Wisconsin natives on the roster, 6-1 freshman forward Jenny Smith (Pewaukee, Wis./Arrowhead) will also challenge for playing time in the front court.  A first-team all-state selection as a senior, Smith was a two-time first-team all-conference performer and scored a school-record 43 points in a game during her final prep season.

Bradley will host its annual Red-White Scrimmage, Friday, Oct. 12 immediately following the 6 p.m. volleyball match against Southern Illinois at Renaissance Coliseum.  The team's only exhibition game is slated for Nov. 1 against Lindenwood (6:30 p.m.) and the season opener will be played Nov. 9 against Central Michigan. 

Season tickets are $75 for adults and $30 for children (K-12).  For more information or to purchase tickets contact the Bradley Athletics Ticket Office (309-677-2625) in the Renaissance Coliseum Nick and Nancy Owens Atrium.