2019–20 Bradley University Women’s Basketball Preview
Ten years ago, Lasha and Mahri Petree were sitting in a gym at Concordia University in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Andrea Gorski was standing on the sideline alongside their father, both coaching the women’s basketball team. Gorski would go on to become the winningest coach in Concordia history, including making two consecutive NAIA Sweet Sixteens. In the stands, the Petree sisters’ eyes were glued to the court.
“I fell in love with basketball watching [Gorski] and my dad coach at Concordia,” said Mahri. “I had so many role models on her team. They were all like superheroes to me.”
“We always looked up to her coaching-wise,” added Lasha. “The way she turned that program around at Concordia. We got to watch it from when she started to when she finished. And what she did, it was incredible.”
Fast forward to 2019, and Gorski is still on the sideline, entering her fourth season as the Bradley women’s basketball head coach. And the Petree sisters will be making Bradley University history as the second pair of sisters to play for the program, and the first since the 1977–78 season.
Lasha Petree, a sophomore, has already started to make her mark on the Missouri Valley Conference. She was named MVC Freshman of the Year, Sixth Player of the Year, and All-MVC honorable mention in 2018–19. Her 376 points last season were the most by a Bradley freshman since 1981–82.
Lasha also posted the third-highest usage rate in the MVC last year, ending possessions for Bradley 30 percent of the time when on the floor. In the off-season, she’s focused on her leadership and her ability to finish — which is sure to make her an even bigger offensive threat for Bradley this season.
Her sister Mahri will join her on the court in the 2019–20 season. While Mahri possesses a similar skillset to Lasha, Gorksi noted that the sisters are by no means clones of each other as players or as people.
“I think they’re completely different players,” said Gorski. “I think that’s what’s fun about it.”
Gorski also joked about the two sisters getting after each other at practice, which is, more than anything, a testament to their competitive spirits and desire to win.
“That’s really why we brought them here. This level of competitiveness in practice and that hunger to win a championship,” said Gorski.
The drive for a MVC championship and a postseason bid is a theme for the whole Bradley team this year. For Lasha Petree, it was the first goal that came to mind for her sophomore year.
“I definitely want to win a championship this year,” said Petree. “That’s always been a goal of mine, and I really think we can do it this year.”
Coach Gorski echoed, “Postseason play. That’s it right there if I have to name one goal. We were so close last year and made great strides, but we fell short of postseason play. And that’s where our program and what we want to be about is moving forward, and I think we were a win or two away from achieving that last year.”
A MVC championship and postseason bid are certainly within reach this year. Bradley returns just shy of 80 percent of its scoring from last season, including nine freshmen and sophomores from 2018–19 poised to take on bigger leadership roles this season.
“We have a lot of weapons. I mean, Gabi Haack and Chelsea Brackmann, first team All-Conference returners. And I think we added a few more pieces this year,” noted Coach Gorski. “I think [we’re] a well-rounded team that’s working hard and focused right now. And, you know, I see a lot of different players contributing this season.”
Haack, who is entering her junior season, is an incredibly efficient offensive weapon for Bradley. She ranked in the top 3 percent in the nation last year, scoring 1.03 points per play (which accounts for field goal attempts, free throws and turnovers). Brackmann, entering her senior season, averaged a double-double last year and led the MVC with 11.2 rebounds per game.
In fact, Brackmann is one of the best rebounders in the country, ranking in the top three percent for offensive, defensive and total rebounds per game. Her defensive rebound rate of 28.2 percent ranked first in the MVC and 18th nationally last season.
Behind the all-MVC level play from Haack and Brackmann, an anticipated sophomore season from Lasha Petree, an incoming class of new talent and the winning pedigree of Coach Gorski, Bradley’s goal of a MVC championship and a postseason berth is well within reach.
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