After a pair of hard-fought games resulted in a 1-1 record, the Eastern women’s basketball team hits the road at 7 tonight with a game against the Bradley Braves in East Peoria.

The game is being played in Ramsey Gym at Illinois Central College because Robertson Fieldhouse, the Braves’ normal home court, was torn down and a new stadium is being built.

The Panthers beat Miami (Ohio) 82-74 on Friday in their season opener before losing 49-45 to Illinois in Champaign on Sunday.

Today’s game marks the second straight game that the Panthers will face a team that they lost in a blowout to a year ago.

Last season, the Braves won 83-57 in Peoria while Eastern’s leading scorer, senior forward Rachel Galligan sat out with an injury.

Two years ago the Panthers won 98-75 in Lantz Arena. Galligan, senior guard Ellen Canale, and junior guard Ashley Thomas all started in that game.

Eastern is 16-12 all-time against the Braves. Galligan said that not being on the court for the blowout loss last season gives her extra incentive in this year’s game.

“We remember what happened here last year. It left a bad taste in our mouths and we don’t want to have that happen again,” said Galligan, who scored a game-high 25 points in the Panthers’ route in 2006. “Two years ago we beat them at home so we know we can beat them too, and we know it’ll be a good game. We just look forward to playing a tough game and hopefully coming out with a win.”

The Braves are led by red-shirt junior guard Skye Johnson. Johnson is Bradley’s returning leading scorer at 9.5 points per game last season and was also the Missouri Valley Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year.

With all four of Bradley’s returning starters averaging between 6-10 points per game last season, Galligan said that the team is focused on stopping the team as a whole instead of keying in on stopping one dominant scorer like they did on Sunday against Illini junior center Jenna Smith.

“Bradley is a physical team and they play a good all-around game,” Galligan said. “They have good post player and shooters and we expect it to be a good, defensive game. We just need for all five of us to be defending at once and boxing out.”

Collin Whitchurch can be reached at 581-7944 or at cfwhitchurch@eiu.edu.