DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University women's basketball team trailed for less than one minute Friday night as it cruised past Wichita State, 81-59, at the Knapp Center.

Drake improved to 15-6 overall and 8-2 in the Missouri Valley Conference with Friday's big win.

The Bulldogs had four players, led by freshman Sara Rhine's (Eldon, Mo.) game-high 16 points, score in double figures. Junior Lizzy Wendell (Blue Springs, Mo.) scored 15 points while freshmen Nicole Miller (Walker, Iowa) and Sammie Bachrodt (Wichita, Kan.) finished with 13 and 10 points respectively. Miller added six rebounds and three steals while Bachrodt pulled down five rebounds.

"It was great to be at home and start the game the way we did," said Drake head coach Jennie Baranczyk. "I really like the way we ended the first and went into the second. Tonight almost every player got around 20 minutes of playing time, which is great because they each gained more valuable experience in that time."

As a team, the Bulldogs shot a blistering 56.6 percent (30-of-53) from the field while handing out 18 assists. Junior Caitlin Ingle (Runnells, Iowa) just missed a double-double with nine points and a game-high 10 assists to just one turnover. Sophomore Maddy Dean (Jordan, Minn.) had nine points, six boards, four assists and two steals.



Wichita State (5-16, 2-8 MVC) led for the final time by a score of 9-7 with 5:21 to play in the first quarter after Rangie Bessard made a jumper. The Bulldogs though answered as Paige Greiner (Williamsburg, Iowa) and Wendell each scored six points in the final two minutes of the opening quarter as the Bulldogs outscored the Shockers 12-4 during that span to lead 25-13 after one period.

Another run, this one a 17-2 spurt, propelled Drake to a 48-23 halftime advantage. Seven different Bulldogs scored in the first two quarters, paced by Wendell with nine points. Greiner, Miller and Rhine each chipped in eight points as the Bulldogs finished at 61 percent on 17-of-28 shooting, including 6-of-13 from behind the arc. Ingle had five assists as the team recorded 11 assists.

In the final two quarters, Drake led by as many as 34 points, as the Bulldogs cruised to its second win over the Shockers this season. It's the first time since the 2008-09 season that Drake has beat Wichita State twice in one season.

WSU was paced in scoring by Bessard and Diamond Lockhart who each finished with 15 points.

Drake hosts Missouri State on Sunday at 2 p.m. in a battle between the co-leaders of the MVC. The game with the Lady Bears is the first of three remaining home games for the Bulldogs.

"It's so special to have the crowd behind us and I can't believe we only have three home games left, Baranczyk said. I'm excited for our fans to be able to watch this team these final three home games in February."