Turk Sparks Bulldogs To First Conference Win Of The Season

DES MOINES, IOWA ? Sophomore Kristin Turk, came off the bench for the first time in 11 games, scoring a career-high 24 points to pace a balanced scoring attack as the Drake women's basketball team snapped a four-game losing streak with an 80-60 Missouri Valley Conference victory past Wichita State Thursday night.

The Bulldogs, who moved to 7-7 overall and 1-2 in the conference, won their fourth-straight home conference win, dating back to a 72-57 victory Feb. 16, 2008 win over Southern Illinois.

Turk surpassed her combined total from the three previous games of 22 points and was three points shy of her previous four-game total of 27.

"I completely understood her decision to take me out of lineup. It relieved pressure off me,” said Turk. “We just played good team basketball, getting opening looks for everyone.”

The first half was a back and forth until Drake went on an 20-6 run, sparked by scoring from six different players, to take a 14-point lead (31-17) at the 5:21 mark. The Bulldogs built the lead to 16 for a 43-27 half-time advantage, setting a season-high for most first-half points.

"We've been telling our team that we will be scary team when we get our offense going and tonight was a prime example when we were clicking on all cylinders,” said Drake head coach Amy Stephens.

Drake shot 43.5 percent (27-of-62) for the game, including 46.7 (14-of-30) in the first half.

The Bulldogs shot 86.4 percent (19-of-22) from the free-throw line, including 92.9 percent (13-of-14) in the first half.

Freshman guard Brittnye McSparron (Apple Valley, Minn./Eastview) had nine points at the half, tying her career-high and finished the game with 18 points.

Freshman forward Rachael Hackbarth (Colgate, Wis./Wisconsin Lutheran) added 10 points and a team-leading seven rebounds. Senior guard Ashleigh Brady (Lubbock, Texas/Frenship) and McSparron added six rebounds, apiece.