OMAHA, NEB. ? In the end it was not simply a game but an experience in a series of remarkable experiences that the Drake women's basketball team hopes to enjoy this season as the Bulldogs moved to 3-0 in Missouri Valley Conference play for the first time since the 2001-02 campaign with a 73-51 road victory over Creighton on Saturday (Jan. 12).
Drake improved to 10-4 overall with its fifth straight triumph, while the Bluejays dropped to 9-5 on the year, including 2-1 in league action.
“It was a great defensive effort by our kids right out of the chute as we controlled the game with great defense and tremendous intensity and we did a fantastic job on the boards,” Bulldog head coach Amy Stephens said.” I thought our kids executed the game plan perfectly and I couldn't be more proud of them.”
The Bulldogs quickly assumed the lead in the encounter as senior Jill Martin (Norwalk, Iowa/Norwalk) drained a fadeaway jumper as the shot clock expired to score the game's first basket.
Drake's defensive pressure in the first half continually befuddled the Bluejays as Creighton committed 12 first half turnovers, which the Bulldogs on the strength of eight steals converted into 13 points. The Bluejays came into the contest as one of the hottest team in the MVC in three-point shooting but were limited to a 0-for-4 effort in the initial stanza.
Led by nine and eight first half points from Martin and sophomore Monique' Jones (Lee's Summit, Mo./Lee's Summit North) Drake was able to force Creighton into taking shots within the lane and the Bulldogs capitalized taking a 30-22 lead into halftime.
Drake connected on 35.7 percent of its shots in the first 20 minutes, while holding Creighton to a .333 shooting mark.
The Bulldogs were able to seize momentum to begin the second half as they took control of the initial five minutes racing out to a 12-4 run to extend their lead to 42-26.
Sophomore Jordann Plummer (St. Louis, Mo./Cardinal Ritter) then stole the show for Drake scoring the next eight Bulldog points to push the advantage to 50-34.
The lead swelled to as many as 25 points before the Bulldogs exited with the victory.
Four Drake players finished in double-figures led by the 30th career double-double from Martin, who registered game highs in points (17) and rebounds (11). Scoring 13 of her 15 points in the second half was Plummer, while senior Lindsay Whorton (Independence, Mo./Truman) and Jones added 15 and 10 points, respectively. Junior Ashleigh Brady (Lubbock, Texas/Frenship) just missed registering double-figures for the third straight game as she netted nine.
Creighton was paced by an 11-point effort from Megan Neuvirth.
Drake finished the tilt shooting 49.1 percent from the floor and held the Bluejays to a 35.7 percent clip. Creighton won the battle of the boards, 41-30, but committed 22 turnovers resulting in 22 Bulldog points.
Drake returns to the road on Friday (Jan. 18) as the squad tangles with defending MVC regular season champion Southern Illinois in the MVC Game of the Week. Action is set to commence at 7:35 p.m. with FSN Midwest carrying the telecast.
