The 2016-17 season featured many thrilling moments and accomplishments for Drake athletics. From conference titles, outstanding team and individual accomplishments, postseason appearances and significant regular season victories, the Bulldogs had plenty to celebrate as they look forward to the upcoming season. Before embarking on 2017-18, www.GoDrakeBulldogs.com will look back at the top 10 moments of the 2016-17 throughout the months of June and July.
The No. 1 moment of the 2016-17 season comes after the Drake women's basketball team's historic undefeated regular season (18-0) and their hunger to win their sixth MVC Tournament title and first since 2007. Entering the MVC Hoops for the Heartland Tournament held on March 9-12 in Moline, Ill., as the top-seeded team, the Bulldogs cruised past Illinois State, winning with a score of 64-40 and advancing to the MVC semifinals for the second-straight season. Lizzy Wendell led all scorers with 17 points.
With a win over Illinois State, Drake advanced to the semifinals of the MVC Tournament where they competed against No. 5 Wichita State. The Bulldogs rallied from a six-point halftime deficit to defeat the shockers, 86-68. Drake outscored Wichita State 59-35 in the final two quarters and advanced to the MVC Championship game for the 12
th time in history, making its first appearance since 2014.
The Bulldogs defeated No. 2 University of Northern Iowa in the championship game of the MVC Tournament on March 12 with a final overtime score of 74-69. With the win, the women's basketball team earned the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, the 11
th appearance in program history.
Ingle led the Bulldogs with a career-high of 22 points in addition to seven assists. Ingle, who was named tournament MVP, forced the overtime period with a jumper as time expired in regulation to tie the game 63-63. In the overtime period, Ingle gave her team a cushion with an early three-pointer followed by a jumper to lead 71-66 less than three minutes into overtime play. With just 18 seconds remaining, a pair of free throw by Wendell sealed the victory.
The overtime win added three more MVC competition wins to the Bulldogs' perfect 18-0 season, giving the team a 22-straight win streak, the second longest win streak in the nation.
Drake's historic season came to an end with a 67-54 loss against Kansas State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on March 18. This was the team's first loss since December 21, 2016.
Kansas State held a five-point, 30-25, lead at halftime that Drake was unable to overcome in the second half as the Wildcats held Drake to 4-of-16 shooting and an 0-of-7 performance from the three-point arc in the third quarter. The Bulldogs shot 36.5 percent in the game and were 7-of-24 from the three-point arc while Kansas State converted at a 47.3 percent clip.
2016-17 featured many thrilling moments and accomplishments for Drake athletics to celebrate. Thank you for following on
www.GoDrakeBulldogs.com for the year's top 10 moments.
