Bears' Allen bound for Bradley

Bradley is building an athletics performance arena that will be the new home for the women's basketball team, and the university even provides pictures on its Web site of the construction update.

The women's basketball team, meanwhile, is in the midst of its own rebuilding project, as the Braves haven't posted a winning season since the 2004-05 season.

That doesn't matter to Olivia Allen, however. Which isn't surprising since the Lake Zurich senior doesn't seem shy about tackling tough tasks.

Allen has given Bradley head coach Paula Buscher a verbal commitment to play basketball and might even run track for the NCAA Division I university.

She plans to play basketball only her freshman year. If all goes well, the 5-foot-4 speedster might attempt to compete track, as well, her sophomore year.

"It depends on how I handle it," said Allen, a high school state qualifier in track since her freshman year.

Allen said she also had an offer to play basketball from Illinois State. She chose Bradley for several reasons.

"They have my major (exercise science), they have very good academics, and they have an excellent coaching staff," she said.

The university's new arena also appealed to Allen, a B student who hopes to be a personal trainer or physical therapist someday.

She's started for Lake Zurich's varsity basketball team since her sophomore year.

"She's put in a lot of time in the gym and worked hard to get better," Bears coach Chris Bennett said. "She deserves to play at the next level and will do very well at Bradley. I'm just glad I get to coach her for one more year."

Allen helped the Bears win 22 games last season. She scored a season-high 26 points against Maine South in putting together an all-conference campaign. She played both guard positions and was regarded as one of the most athletics players in the county.

She figures to have a good chance to immediately help Bradley, which went 12-18 last season, 12-19 the previous year and 9-19 in 2005-06.

"From my conversations with the (Bradley) coaches, I think it's a great fit," Bennett said. "They are looking for an athletic two (shooting guard), who can back up the one (point guard), run and gun a little, shoot outside, and play great man-to-man on quick guards. That pretty much describes Olivia, except she can run a lot.

"The school is close, so everyone can come watch, it's a good school, and if she wants to stick with track, too, she has that option open to her."

Allen plans to sign her letter of intent in November. Then she can focus on her senior season.

"I'm glad I got it done," she said of her commitment.