DES MOINES, IOWA -- In the end all the Bulldogs could do was scratch their head at what could have been as Evansville handed Drake a 69-66 overtime setback on Thursday (Feb. 14).
The loss snapped the Bulldogs' six-game home winning streak and dropped Drake to 14-8 overall, including 7-4 in the Missouri Valley Conference. The Purple Aces completed the season sweep of the Bulldogs to extend their winning streak to 10 games en route to improving their ledger to 16-7 on the year and 10-2 in league play.
Trailing 63-62 with 2:33 left in overtime sophomore Jordann Plummer (St. Louis, Mo./Cardinal Ritter) went up for a jumper and was fouled in the act of shooting. After some initial confusion, Ashley Austin was whistled for her fifth foul and Plummer stepped to the line looking to give Drake its first lead since early in the second half. Plummer split the pair and the game was tied at 63.
Robyn Jennings stretched the margin to 66-63 as she nailed a clutch three-pointer with 1:36 remaining.
After Jennings' three-pointer, Junior Ashleigh Brady (Lubbock, Texas/Frenship) hit one of two free throws on the Bulldogs' next trip down the floor to trim the lead to 66-64 with 1:18 remaining. Rebekah Parker answered for Evansville with a lay-up in the lane with 1:01 to play to give the Purple Aces a 68-64 lead, an advantage they didn't relinquish.
Senior Jill Martin (Norwalk, Iowa/Norwalk) paced the Bulldogs with her fifth straight and league-leading 10th double-double of the season with a 22-point, 11-rebound performance. Brady joined her in double-figures with 10 points.
Jennings and Courtney Felke led four Purple Aces in double-digit scoring with 15 points apiece. Parker collected her second career double-double with a 14-point, 12-rebound effort.
Evansville finished the affair shooting 44.4 percent from the field, while the Bulldogs connected at a 34.9 percent pace.
Drake was outrebounded 43-36, while it committed 14 turnovers and forced the Purple Aces into 22.
The Bulldogs return to action on Saturday (Feb. 16) hosting Southern Illinois in the 200th Drake women's basketball game in the Knapp Center. The contest will be the Bulldogs' Hoops 4 Hope game with Drake donning pink uniforms to raise breast cancer awareness and the tilt begins at 6:05 p.m.
