Women’s team has big goals at Valley tournament

From Jenny Van Kirk ‘10…

Hi, I’m Jenny Van Kirk ‘10, and I am a junior on the Bradley women’s basketball team.  This season has been extremely successful thus far as our team has compiled a record of 20-9 overall and 11-7 in the Missouri Valley Conference.  We finished fourth in the conference and received the fourth seed for the MVC tournament this weekend.  By earning the fourth seed, we have avoided the play-in game on Thursday.  This serves as a huge advantage because the top six teams will have fresh legs on Friday.  Our first game will be 2:30 p.m. Friday against Indiana State.  We are extremely excited about our chances at this year’s tournament, and I will be keeping you updated on our progress daily.

This year we have a very tight-knit team, and our team chemistry has been an instrumental part of our success.  We have been through a lot on and off the floor this year, and the MVC tournament is the culmination of all our efforts this season.  The season can be thought of as three mini-seasons: nonconference play, conference play, and the MVC tournament.  We have reached the third part of our season, and now every team “starts over.”  Records do not matter.  Seeds do not matter.  Any team can win.  There is no tomorrow.  It is either win or go home.  The team that comes to play the hardest and strings together three wins will earn the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. We would love to have your support as we head to St. Charles with big goals.

Through this journal I hope to provide you with an inside look at our experiences as a part of the Bradley women’s basketball team, as we are provided with tremendous opportunities and enjoy every minute of our time together.  Thanks, and Go Braves!