Denver women’s basketball senior starter, Paige Bradley (The Woodlands, Texas), reached an impressive milestone in her collegiate career against the University of South Dakota Coyotes on Friday Jan. 1. The point-guard recorded a team-high 18 points during the match, including a half-court shot within the last seconds of the second quarter, six assists and tallied her 1000th career point.
The Pios fell short to the Coyotes, 85-60, but Bradley walked away as the 23rd player in program history to hit the thousand-point mark.
“It was very cool, I know it’s not something everyone gets to have so I feel really lucky to have achieved that in my career,” said Bradley.
The finance major hopes it will inspire other people to reach that goal as well, as her remaining time with the program is numbered.
“Ideally, the ultimate goal is to win a conference championship which will get us a spot in the NCAA tournament,” said Bradley.
With the Pios currently 3-13, Denver has suffered a large amount of injuries in the season so far, hurting the depth of their bench with players fit enough to play.
In Denver’s last homestand match for the month of January, they defeated Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne 64-53. Bradley recorded a career-high 31 points during the match. Thus far in 2016, Bradley has increased her percentage behind the arc from 40 percent to 69.2 percent (9-of-13) three-pointers.
The senior continues to put in the hard work in hopes of attaining the conference title.
“A big thing that motivates me is the people I am surrounded by. My coaches and teammates make me want to get better for them,” she said.
With the first half of her senior campaign already in the books, Bradley tries to salvage and cherish these last few moments as a student-athlete.
“It’s been a great learning experience, there’s definitely been challenges over the past four years, but it’s been fun.”
Come out and support the sole senior, Paige Bradley, and the rest of the women’s basketball team when they return to Magness Arena on Friday Feb. 5 in a rematch against the University of South Dakota Coyotes. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
