The Bradley women’s club basketball team rarely has a chance to play in front of friends and family, but this weekend they have an opportunity to do just that.
After participating in numerous tournaments throughout the Midwest, the team finally has a chance to host its own tournament.
The team will host the first Braves Invite at Markin Recreation Center. The tournament was organized by senior biology major Cathryne Spear, the club’s president.
“I really wanted a home tournament for the team,”Spear said. “We have never had a home tournament before. The girls really wanted their friends to come see them play.”
The tournament will be structured similar to the World Cup, minus the grouping. Each team will play one another Saturday in a “round robin” format. Sunday will be a single elimination tournament, with the seeding determined by the results of Saturday’s games.
Five other teams will participate in the tournament with the Braves: the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Western Illinois, Augustana, DePaul and Loyola. Of those five, only University of Wisconsin-Madison is a team Bradley has played in the past.
“We haven’t seen the other teams play,” Spear said. “It’s hard to scout because you only see them at tournaments, but expectations are high. It’s kind of a surprise. I’m excited.”
Unlike most tournaments, there is no prize for winning the Bradley Invite. It is just a chance for players to play meaningful games while getting ready for more meaningful tournaments later in the semester.
“We are just trying to prepare for regionals,” Spear said. “We are just trying to get some playing time together.”
The Braves play their first game of the tournament against Augustana 10 a.m. Saturday at Markin.
