Preview: Belmont Bruins at Bradley Braves PEORIA, Ill. (Interstat) — The Bradley Braves look to rebound from a stunning defeat when they host the Belmont Bruins in a key women’s NCAA Division I basketball matchup Sunday at Carver Arena. The Braves (18-9) enter reeling from a 72-40 home loss to Murray State on Friday, a performance they will aim to quickly forget. Prior to that, Bradley had won five of its last six games. Belmont (16-10) also seeks a bounce-back after falling 83-78 at Illinois State on Friday, snapping a four-game winning streak. The Bruins won the season’s first meeting decisively, 78-57, at home on Jan. 2. Sunday offers Bradley a chance for redemption on its home floor. A key matchup will feature Belmont guard Jailyn Banks against Bradley’s Maya Foz. Banks has been instrumental in Belmont’s recent success, averaging over 17 points per game during the team’s recent 4-1 stretch, including a 26-point outing in a win at Drake on Feb. 5. She is a dynamic scoring and playmaking threat. Foz has been a consistent performer for Bradley, scoring in double figures in eight consecutive games. She recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds in a win at Evansville on Feb. 13. How she responds after a 17-point effort in the lopsided loss to Murray State will be crucial for the Braves’ offense. Both teams have shown the ability to string together victories this season, making this a pivotal contest for momentum heading into the final stretch of conference play. Belmont’s potent offense, led by Banks, will test a Bradley defense that faltered last time out. The Braves will rely on their home court and the scoring of Foz to steady themselves and split the season series. Tip-off is set for Sunday afternoon. Belmont visits Indiana State next on Feb. 28, while Bradley travels to Illinois-Chicago on Thursday.