DES MOINES, IOWA -- Guards Kristin Turk (Des Moines, Iowa/Lincoln) and Brittnye McSparron (Apple Valley, Minn./Eastview) came off the bench to combine for 31 points as the Drake women's basketball team won its second straight Missouri Valley Conference victory with a 56-44 decision past Missouri State Saturday.

It also marked Drake's fifth straight victory past Missouri State dating back to 2007.

Drake improved to 8-7 overall, including a 2-2 league mark. Missouri State, which suffered its fourth straight loss, fell to 4-11, including a 0-4 MVC record.

Turk and McSparron were both coming off career-highs of 24 and 18 points, respectively, against Wichita State Thursday. McSparron is shooting 7-of-14 (.500) over the last two games with Turk at 15-of-25 (.600).

Drake's defense limited Missouri State to a season-low 28.8 percent shooting from the floor, including 25.9 percent in the first half.

The Lady Bears' 44 points were the lowest since a 72-42 loss to the Bulldogs in the Knapp Center last season.

The Bulldogs also held Missouri State 17 points below its season scoring average of 61.3 points

"We dug our heels in and really grinded it out," said Drake coach Amy Stephens. "We played excellent defense. I was proud of our team's effort."

Clinging to a 36-33 lead with 8:08 left, Turk and McSparron combined for five points to key a 9-0 run by Drake that built the lead to 45-33.

Turk scored 10 of her game-high 18 points in the first half to stake Drake to a 23-18 lead.

Junior guard Jordann Plummer (St. Louis, Mo./Cardinal Ritter) added 13 points, including 10 in the second half.

Senior forward Lauren Dybing (Bloomington, Minn./St. Croix Lutheran) grabbed a team-high eight rebounds for Drake, while Monique' Jones (Lee's Summit, Mo./Summit North) added seven boards.

The two teams were even in rebounds and turnovers with 37 and 22 apiece, respectively.

Drake's 25 free-throw attempts were the most since the Bulldogs attempted 39 in a 72-54 season opening win against Texas State. The Bulldogs finished the game 15-of-25 from the charity stripe.

“We attacked the basket which allowed us to get to free throw line,” said Stephens.

Drake takes to the road, traveling to Evansville and Southern Illinois next week. The Bulldogs face the Purple Aces Thursday (Jan. 15) at 7 p.m. and the Salukis Saturday (Jan. 17) at 3:05 p.m.

“We can hopefully take the momentum of this two-win homestand into our road games next weekend and continue to get wins in conference play,” stated Stephens.