THE GAME

Standing in third place in the Missouri Valley Conference, Drake, winners of three straight, looks to earn its 10th conference game, hosting Evansville in the Hoops for Hope this afternoon. The Bulldogs trail conference-leading Illinois State (9-1) by 1 1/2 games.

 

PROBABLE STARTERS

Drake Bulldogs (15-8, 9-3 MVC)

No. - Player - P - Ht. - Cl. - PPG - RPG - APG - FG% - FT%

21 - Jordann Plummer - G - 5-6 - RJr. - 13.0 - 4.4 - 2.3 - .424 - .753

24 - Kelsey Keizer - F - 6-2 - Sr. - 3.0 - 4.2 - 0.6 - .492 - .417

32 - Lauren Dybing - F - 6-3 - Sr. - 8.2 - 4.8 - 0.7* - .400 - .667

34 - Amber Wollschlager - G - 6-0 - Fr. - 3.1 - 1.5 - 0.5 - .321 - .813

45 - Monique' Jones - F - 5-10 - Jr. - 5.7 - 5.3 - 1.3 - .463 - .711

 

Top Reserves

4 - Ashleigh Brady - G - 5-10 - Sr. - 3.1 - 1.4 - 0.4 - .407 - .737

15 - Rachael Hackbarth - F - 6-2 - Fr. - 6.8 - 4.7 - 1.0* - .796 - .395

23 - Kristin Turk - G - 5-8 - So. - 11.5 - 2.5 - 1.2 - .378 - .770

30 - Alex Montgomery - F - 6-1 - Fr. - 2.0 - 1.7 - 0.0 - .800 - 1.000

35 - Kaniesha Agee - G - 5-8 - Jr. - 0.5 - 1.7 - 2.5 - .208 - .250

 

Evansville Purple Aces (9-14, 2-10 MVC)

No. - Player - P - Ht. - Cl. - PPG - RPG - APG - FG% - FT%

1 - Ashley Austin - G - 5-9 - Sr. - 12.0 - 4.8 - 3.2 - .368 - .742

5 - Kate Batey - G - 5-8 - Sr. - 1.8 - 1.8 - 0.5 - .283 - .167

23 - Amy Gallagher - G - 5-10 - Jr. - 11.3 - 4.5 - 2.7 - .403 - .764

32 - Shannon Novosel - C - 6-1 - Sr. - 10.9 - 5.8 - 1.9 - .396 - .591

34 - Stephanie Bamberger - G - 5-10 - So. - 5.0 - 3.3 - 1.9 - .273 - .857

 

* Blocks per game

 

DRAKE BASKETBALL

Drake will plays its 1,029th contest Saturday (February 14). The Bulldogs have a record of 659-369 (.641), including a 362-104 (.777) home mark, a 229-220 (.510) road record and 68-45 mark (.602) at neutral locations. The Bulldogs are 167-48 (.777) in the Knapp Center, including a 65-24 (.730) mark under head coach Amy Stephens.

 

FOLLOW THE DRAKE-EVANSVILLE GAME

• Watch live on ESPNU with Jill Hutchison and Dan McLaughlin calling the action.
• Log onto www.godrakebulldogs.com and follow the link to livestats.
• Listen to the Drake broadcast on KRNT (1350 AM).

 

THE COACHES

Misty Murphy is in her first season leading Evansville, compiling a 9-14 (.391) record. Murphy is 117-79 (.597) in seven seasons as a head coach.

 

Amy Stephens is in her sixth season at Drake and owns a 99-80 (.553) ledger with a 296-123 (.706) overall mark in her 14th season as a head coach.

 

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT

Evansville is 9-14 overall (2-10 MVC) after a 68-57 loss at Creighton Thursday. Senior forward Robyn Jennings led the Purple Aces with 13 points, followed by senior center Shannon Novosel with 12 points.  Freshman forward Eva Benson grabbed a team-high eight rebounds and senior guard Ashley Austin had a team-high 10 assists in the loss.

 

The Purple Aces have four players averaging double-figures. Austin leads the team with 12.0 points, followed by junior guard Amy Gallagher with 11.3, Jennings with 11.0 and Novosel with 10.9.

 

THE SERIES

This is the 33rd meeting between Drake and Evansville in a series that began during the 1994-95 season. The Bulldogs lead the series 22-10 with a 11-4 home record, a 9-6 mark in Evansville and a 2-0 mark in neutral locations.

 

The Bulldogs won the first 11 meetings between the two teams and have won two consecutive dating back to a 46-41 MVC tournament win March 15, 2008.

 

Each of the last 10 meetings between Drake and Evansville have been decided by seven points or less, including a 62-61 Bulldog win January 15.

 

LAST TIME THEY MET

Drake 62, Evansville 61; Jan. 19, 2009; Evansville, Ind.?Junior forward Monique' Jones (Lee's Summit, Mo.) scored seven points to key an 11-0 run early in the second half as Drake escaped with a 62-61 Missouri Valley Conference victory past Evansville.

 

It marked the Bulldogs' first victory in Evansville since earning a 67-60 triumph in Roberts Stadium Dec. 30, 2001.

 

Drake coach Amy Stephens earned her first victory in Evansville in five trips.

 

Drake, winning a season-high third straight game, improved to 9-7 overall, including a 3-2 league mark, entering a Saturday game at Southern Illinois.

 

Evansville hit eight of its first 12 shots from floor en route to constructing a 27-14 lead with 9:27 left.

 

But the Bulldogs went on a 16-5 scoring binge to close out the first half trailing 32-30. Freshman guard Brittnye McSparron (Apple Valley, Minn.) fueled the charge with seven points.

 

Junior guard Jordann Plummer (St. Louis, Mo.) and senior forward Kelsey Keizer (Arnolds Park, Iowa) paced a balanced Drake attack with 12 points apiece.

 

Keizer also grabbed a game-high nine rebounds, including eight offensive boards.

 

For the game, Drake won on the boards with a 49-40 advantage, including a 21-17 advantage on the offensive glass.

 

Sophomore guard Kristin Turk (Des Moines, Iowa) started Drake's 11-0 run in the second half with a jumper to break a 35-35 tie. Then Jones had a conventional three-point play followed by a layup from freshman Rachael Hackbarth (Colgate, Wis.)

 

Jones closed out the run with consecutive baskets. A three-point basket by Turk gave drake its biggest lead of the game at 52-39 with 12:02 left.

 

Evansville had a chance to win the game when Jones missed the front end of a bonus free throw situation with 18.4 seconds left.

 

But the Purple Aces missed two shots and then Hackbarth stole an inbounds pass with 1.3 seconds left.

 

The Bulldogs dominated the inside, scoring 32 points in the paint and limiting Evansville to 18.

 

The Bulldogs edged the Purple Aces in shooting 38.7 percent to 34.9 percent.

 

HOOPS FOR HOPE

The game against Evansville Saturday has been designated as the Hoops 4 Hope event dedicated to raising cancer awareness in the greater Des Moines community as part of the National Women's Basketball Coaches' Association (WBCA) Pink Zone initiative. Medical Oncology and Hematology Associates, The Iowa Clinic and the Mercy Cancer Center are sponsoring the event this year in the Drake Knapp Center.

 

Each Drake women's basketball player will wear a pink jersey to show support in the fight against cancer.

 

A silent auction will be held during the game for each of the game-worn pink jerseys the players will be wearing with proceeds benefiting the American Cancer Society.

 

All cancer survivors in attendance will be honored at halftime of the event. Any additional cancer survivors looking to take part in this event should contact the American Cancer Society of Des Moines.

 

DOULBE YOUR PLEASURE

Junior forward Monique' Jones has recorded three consecutive double-doubles in wins over Wichita State, Missouri State and Southern Illinois. Jones collected 12 points and 15 rebounds in the 65-50 win over Wichita State, 13 points and 11 rebounds in the 66-60 win over Missouri State; and 10 points and 11 rebounds in the 57-46 win over Southern Illinois.

 

The double-doubles were the third, fourth and fifth of Jones' career. Her first two career double-doubles came during her freshman season, with a 12 point, 10 rebound effort at Indiana State and a 13 point, 10 rebound performance at Wichita State.

 

WHO'S HOT

Junior guard Monique' Jones recorded three-consecutive double-doubles in the in wins over Wichita State, Missouri State and Southern Illinois. Over the last five games she is 19-of-28 (.679) from the field, averaging 10.6 points and a team-leading 10.8 rebounds over that span. Jones is shooting an MVC-leading 56.5 percent (39-of-69) from the field in conference games this season.

 

Junior guard Jordann Plummer has led the Bulldogs in scoring in seven of the last eight games, averaging 18.3 points, along with 5.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.0 steals. She is 52-of-108 (.481) from the floor and 32-of-44 (.727) from the charity stripe in that span. Plummer has moved into third-place in the MVC, with 14.6 points per game against conference opponents.

 

Rachael Hackbarth is 29-of-52 (.558) over the last seven games, averaging 9.4 points along with 5.4 rebounds per game. The freshman forward is shooting 48.9 percent (44-of-90) in conference games, ranking sixth in the MVC.

 

SAME GAME, NEW LOCATION

The Bulldogs' game at Creighton on Feb. 27 will be played at the Qwest Center in Omaha, Neb. The match-up will be the first-ever regular-season women's game to be played at the Qwest Center.

 

The game has been chosen as one of the Missouri Valley Conference Wildcard Weekend games, to be broadcast on Fox Sports Midwest, Fox Sports Indiana, Fox Sports Kansas City, Fox College Sports and Comcast SportsNet Chicago.

 

DOUBLE THE EFFORT

Junior guard Jordann Plummer has scored in double figures 17 times this season, topping her effort for all of last season (16). Plummer has scored in double-figures in a career-record nine consecutive games and has a team-high 39 career double-digit efforts.

 

THE COUNTDOWN IS ON

Drake head coach Amy Stephens is approaching several coaching milestones. Stephens has an overall record of 296-123 in 16 seasons, four shy of her 300th victory.

 

During her tenure at Drake, Stephens has collected 99 wins, needing one to reach the century mark. She will be the third coach in Bulldog history to record 100 wins, joining Carole Baumgarten (257-99; 1974-86) and Lisa Bluder (188-105; 1990-2000).

 

Stephens also has 58 conference wins, two shy of reaching the 60-win mark.

 

She recorded her first victory Nov. 29, 2003, with a 54-46 triumph at Dayton. Her first home win was Dec. 5, 2003, with a 70-55 mark over Michigan. Stephens collected win number 50, a 58-43 triumph over Cal State-Fullerton, Nov. 19, 2006.

 

 

WITH A WIN AGAINST EVANSVILLE, DRAKE

• Extends winning streak against the Purple Aces to three games (dating back to March 15, 2008).
• Wins first regular-season game at home against the Purple Aces since Feb. 17, 2006 (Drake defeated Evansville 61-58 in an MVC tournament game in Des Moines, March 10, 2007)
• Earns 60th conference victory and 100th Drake victory for head coach Amy Stephens.
• Wins fourth straight game for the third time this season.
• Wins 10 home games for the fourth consecutive year.
• Wins 10 conference games for the second consecutive season.

 

BALANCE

In 23 games this season, seven players have led Drake in scoring and six have led the team in rebounding. Leading scorers have been Kristin Turk (10 games), Jordann Plummer (9), Rachael Hackbarth (2), Ashleigh Brady, Amber Wollschlager, Monique Jones and Kelsey Keizer. Top rebounders include Jones (7), Keizer (6),  Lauren Dybing (5), Hackbarth (3), Plummer (2) and Turk.

 

LAST TIME OUT

 

Drake 57, Southern Illinois 46 (Feb. 12; Des Moines, Iowa) ? Junior guard Jordann Plummer (St. Louis, Mo./Cardinal Ritter) scored a team-high 17 points, including 13 in the second half, as Drake earned its third straight Missouri Valley Conference victory with a 57-46 decision past Southern Illinois .

 

Drake opened the game, making 10 of its first 14 shots to race to a 21-7 lead following a three-point play by freshman Rachael Hackbarth (Colgate, Wis./Wisconsin Lutheran).

 

But the Salukis responded by scoring 11 straight points to pull within 21-18.

 

Drake shot 50 percent from the floor, including 57.9 percent in the first half to enjoy a 24-20 lead.

 

Drake coach Amy Stephens was disappointed with the team committing 22 turnovers in which Southern Illinois was able to convert into 21 points.

 

Junior Monique' Jones (Lee's Summit, Mo./Lee's Summit North) enjoyed her third straight double-double with 10 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.

 

Plummer, who scored in double figures for the ninth consecutive game, added seven rebounds and six assists for the Bulldogs.

 

The Bulldogs outrebounded Southern Illinois, 39-27.

 

LINE IMPROVEMENT

After finishing the 2007-08 campaign 47-of-78 (.603) from the free throw line, junior forward Monique' Jones spent the off season focusing on improving her numbers at the charity stripe. This season Jones has improved to .711 from the line, connecting on 32-of-45 free throws.

 

Jones opened this season hitting 6-of-6 from the line against Texas State. She has had two other games (at Illinois State and vs. Wichita State) where she was perfect from the line.

 

DID  YOU KNOW...

• Drake is 13-3 this season when leading at half.
• The Bulldogs' win over Evansville (Jan. 15) is the only victory this season when the team trailed at halftime.
• Drake's 62-61 win over Evansville (Jan. 15), 68-65 loss to Creighton (Jan. 31) and 66-60 win over Missouri State (Feb. 8) are the only games this season decided by less than 10 points.
• The Bulldogs attempted 39 free throws in the season opener against Texas State. The next closest total is 25 against Missouri State (Jan. 10).
• Drake attempted a season-low four free throws against Indiana State (Jan. 1). The four attempts was the lowest since the March 24, 2008, NIT game at Illinois where the Bulldogs attempted two free throws.
• The Bulldogs are 9-4 when shooting 40 percent or better. The Bulldogs won four games (vs. Coppin State, Evansville, at Wichita State and at Missouri State) shooting under 40 percent.
• Drake is 8-2 when scoring 60 plus points, 4-0 when scoring 70 plus points and 1-0 when scoring 80 plus points.
• The Bulldog junior class has scored the most points this season with 432 (18.8 ppg). The freshmen are second with 391 (17.0 ppg), followed by the seniors with 314 (13.7 ppg) and the sophomores with 290 (12.6 ppg).
• Drake's 43 first-half points against Wichita State were the most points scored in a half this season.
• Drake is 9-2 when the opponents score the first point(s) of the game.

 

FREE IS GOOD

The Bulldogs have made 293 free throws this season with 160 of those coming in the last nine games. Drake has made more free throws (160) that opponents have attempted (159) over the past 10 contests, compiling a 9-1 record.

 

Leading the sudden rush to the free-throw line is junior guard Jordann Plummer (40-of-57), sophomore guard Kristin Turk (23-of-30), senior forward Lauren Dybing (21-of-33) and junior forward Monique' Jones (22-of-35).

 

HALF AND HALF

• In the Bulldogs' game at Indiana State, the Sycamores' 14 first-half points ranked second all-time in fewest points by a Drake opponent in a half.
• In that same game Drake was held to 17 first-half points, ranking fourth all-time in the Bulldog record book.
• Drake's 14 first-half points at Wisconsin ranked second all-time for fewest points by the Bulldogs in a half.
• Against Missouri State, Drake scored the most points in a half this season with 43, topping the previous mark of 40, set in the first half of the 69-59 win over Columbia (Nov. 29).
• In the Feb. 12 win over Southern Illinois the Bulldogs kept a team at 20 points or under in the first-half for the fifth time this season, allowing only 20.

 

ON THIS DATE IN BULLDOG HISTORY

When the Bulldogs host Evansville Saturday (Feb. 14), it will mark the ninth time in school history in which Drake has played on the date. The Bulldogs have gone 5-3 in the previous seven encounters, including a 3-0 mark in home games.

 

WELCOME TO OUR HOME, DON'T GET TOO COMFORTABLE

The Bulldogs are 167-48 in 15 years of playing in the Drake Knapp Center. Notable wins for Drake in the Knapp Center have come against Iowa, Iowa State, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oregon State, Southern California, Utah and Wisconsin.

 

The Bulldogs are 9-2 in the Knapp Center this season with wins over Texas State (Nov. 14), Columbia (Nov. 29), Coppin State (Dec. 2), Western Michigan (Dec. 14), Wichita State (Jan. 8), Missouri State (Jan. 10), Bradley (Jan. 23) and  Northern Iowa (Jan. 25), Southern Illinois (Feb. 12). The Bulldogs fell to Iowa, 71-53 (Dec. 14) and Creighton (Jan. 31).

 

HOME IS WHERE THE POINTS (AND SOME REBOUNDS) ARE

Drake is outscoring opponents by 9.9 points per game at home this season, 65.8 to 55.9. The Bulldogs are topping opponents 31.5 to 26.2 in the first half and 34.3 to 29.7 in the second half.

 

On the boards, the Bulldogs are pulling down 39.0 rebounds compared to 33.5 for opponents, an advantage of 5.5 rebounds per game.

 

RECORDS ARE MEANT...

Second-ranked Oklahoma University senior center Courtney Paris broke the NCAA career rebounding record set by Drake's Wanda Ford. Ford, a first-team All-American, collected 1,815 career rebounds between 1982 and 1986 for the Bulldogs. Paris grabbed eight rebounds in a 93-75 win over Oklahoma State, Feb. 8, to bring her career mark to 1,823 boards.

 

ROAD IMPROVEMENTS

With the 65-50 win at Wichita State Feb. 6 and a 66-60 win at Missouri State Feb. 8, the Bulldogs' have won their last four road games and pulled even contests away from the Knapp at 6-6.

 

Drake has closed the scoring gap in road games to 1.3 points (58.6 to 59.9). After the weekend sweep, the Bulldogs' hold a rebounding margin of +1.1  (35.7 to 34.6) on the road.

 

MULTIPLE THREAT

Drake senior Lauren Dybing, a 6-3 forward, is expanding her game this season. Dybing, who was 3-of-21 (.143) from three-point range all last season, has doubled her three-point production from a year ago, going 6-of-12 (.500) this season.

 

DRAKE'S OFFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT

In Drake's 23 games this season, this is how the Bulldogs fared from the field:

• 50 percent: Northern Iowa (.523), at Southern Illinois (.518); Southern Illinois (.500)
• 40 percent: Creighton (.481), at Missouri State (.479), at Green Bay (.458), Texas State (.457), Western Michigan (.452), Columbia (.448), at Tennessee Tech (.441), Wichita State (.435), at Chicago State (.433), Weber State (.423), Illinois State (.404), Bradley (.400);
• 30 percent: at Wichita State (.397), at Iowa State (.392), at Evansville (.387), Coppin State (.361), at Wisconsin (.357), Missouri State (.367), at Indiana State (.340),
• 20 percent: Iowa (.299).

 

BULLDOGS' DEFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT

This is how the Bulldogs' opponents have fared from the field this season:

• 50 percent: at Chicago State (.521);
• 40 percent: at Green Bay (.488), Iowa (.475), at Iowa State (.451), Columbia (.448), at Bradley (.429), Wichita State (.424), Northern Iowa (.415);
• 30 percent: at Wichita State (.321), Texas State (.323), Weber State (.328), Indiana State (.333), Southern Illinois (.339), Evansville (.346), Creighton (.353), Western Michigan (.358), at Missouri State (.375), at Wisconsin (.377), at Tennessee Tech (.380), at Southern Illinois (393), at Illinois State (.397);
• 20 percent: Missouri State (.288), Coppin State (.281).

 

BULLDOG D

Under head coach Amy Stephens, defense has been the signature of the Drake women's basketball team and this season is no different. The Bulldogs are holding opponents to 58.0 points per game. In Drake's 15 wins the average drops to 54.8 points allowed per game.

 

NCAA RANKINGS

The NCAA ranks 328 Division I women's basketball programs in various statistical categories. In the Feb. 12 rankings, the Bulldogs are in the top third nationally in scoring defense (68th, 58.0 ppg), field-goal percentage (74th, .422), rebounding margin (80th, +3.3) and won-lost percentage (80th .652).

 

IS THAT SEAT TAKEN?

The Drake bench is outscoring opponents bench, 548-364, averaging 23.8 points per game to opponents' 15.8. The Bulldog bench has outscored or equaled opponents in 18 games this season, compiling an 14-4 record.

 

The wins over Wichita State (Jan. 8) and Missouri State (Jan. 10) were the largest margins this season, with Drake holding a 28 point bench advantage in each game.

 

MCSPARRON SUFFERS SEASON-ENDING INJURY

Drake freshman forward Brittney McSparron (Apple Valley Minn./East View) injured her knee in the Bulldog's game against Creighton. Results of a recent MRI revealed a tear in the ACL, forcing McSparron out for the season.

 

McSparron played in 20 games, starting six. She was averaging 7.7 points and 2.7 rebounds.

 

MOVIN' ON UP

With 23 blocks this season, senior forward Lauren Dybing moved into fourth place on the Drake career blocks list with 107. In the 70-60 win over Northern Iowa (Jan. 25), Dybing collected a season-high four blocks.

 

KEIZER EARNS ACADEMIC HONOR

Drake senior Kelsey Keizer (Arnolds Park, Iowa/Okoboji) was tabbed as an ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VII women's basketball team honoree, as announced by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), Feb. 5.

 

A first-team selection, Keizer is making her first appearance on the list.  

 

Keizer now advances to the national ballot where she will be eligible for Academic All-America honors, which will be released on Feb. 24.

 

A finance and secondary education double major, Keizer boasts a 3.97 grade point average.

 

Keizer, a native of Okoboji, Iowa, has played in all 22 games, starting 20 for Drake and is averaging 3.0 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.

 

To be eligible for nominations to the CoSIDA Academic All-American team, nominees must own a cumulative GPA of 3.30 based on a 4.0 scale.

 

TURK NAMED STATE FARM MVC PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Drake sophomore guard Kristin Turk (Des Moines, Iowa/Lincoln) was named the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Basketball Player of the Week Jan. 12 after coming off the bench to lead the Bulldogs to a pair of league victories.

 

Turk scored a career-high 24 points to spur the Bulldogs to a 80-60 victory past Wichita State (Jan. 8) at the Drake Knapp Center. She was 8-of-11 (.727) from the field, 3-of-5 (.600) from three point and 5-of-6 (.833) from the free-throw line. She also added four rebounds, one assist and one block.

 

She followed that with a game-high 18 points in a 56-44 win over Missouri State (Jan. 10). Turk was 7-of-14 (.500) from the field and 4-of-8 (.500) from three point. On the week she averaged 21 points and shot 15-of-25 (.600) from the field and 7-of-13 (.538) from three point.

 

DRAKE TABBED THIRD

The Bulldogs were tabbed to finish third in the 2008-09 Missouri Valley Conference pre-season poll.

 

In the Valley's annual poll of coaches, sports information directors and media members, the Bulldogs garnered 297 points. Illinois State topped the rankings, receiving all 40 first-place votes and 400 total points. Creighton landed in second with 310 points.

 

The defending MVC regular-season champion Bulldogs return eight letter winners, including three regular starters and six players with starting experience, to a team that finished 23-11 last season and advanced to the second round of the NIT.

 

Rounding out the rankings were Evansville in fourth with 342 points followed by Northern Iowa (245), Missouri State (215 points), Indiana State (166 points), Bradley (161 points), Southern Illinois (108 points) and Wichita State (47 points).

 

FORMER DRAKE STANDOUT NAMED RHODES SCHOLAR

Former Drake University women's basketball standout Lindsay Whorton (Independence, Mo./Truman) was selected as one of 32 Americans chosen as a Rhodes Scholar for 2009. She is Drake's first Rhodes Scholar recipient in 82 years.

 

Whorton, who graduated in December with a double major in English and secondary education, maintains a perfect 4.0 grade point average.

 

She received a two-year scholarship to study at Oxford University in Oxford, England. She plans to study social policy and evidence-based social intervention at Oxford.

 

This year's 32 Rhodes Scholars were picked from 769 applicants endorsed by 207 colleges and universities nationwide. About 80 scholars were chosen throughout the world for inclusion in the 2009 class.

 

Prior Rhodes Scholars include former President Bill Clinton, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and former senator and former NBA star Bill Bradley.

 

The internationally renowned scholarships were created in 1902 by the will of Cecil Rhodes, a British philanthropist and African colonial pioneer.

 

Rhodes Scholars are selected on the basis of high academic achievement, integrity of character, a spirit of unselfishness, respect for others, potential for leadership and physical vigor.

 

Whorton was student teaching at Valley High School in West Des Moines, Iowa last semester. This past summer, she took a youth group from a West Des Moines church to an impoverished county in South Dakota, where they performed service work on an Indian reservation.

 

A year ago on the basketball court, she helped lead the Bulldogs to a 23-11 mark and their first regular season Missouri Valley Conference title since the 2000-01 campaign, averaging 13.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists en route to earning first team All-MVC accolades.  Drake also won its first postseason tournament game since 2001-02 with its 65-56 home victory over Green Bay in the Women's National Invitation Tournament.

 

She finished her career as Drake's all-time leader in three pointers with 266 and played in 125 career contests, the second-best mark in school history.  Her 797 career three-point attempts are an MVC record, while ranking third in career triples in league history.  She scored 1,564 career points, the 13th-highest total in Bulldog history.

 

Off the court, she became just the third women's basketball player in school history to be named a first team Academic All-America selection when she was tabbed to the five-player ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America squad.

 

Whorton joined Jan Jensen (1990 & 1991) and Tricia Wakely (1996) on this prestigious list. Jan Jensen was named national Academic All-America Player of the Year in 1991, while Wakely shared the same honor in 1996.

 

Whorton also became the first Bulldog to earn first team Academic All-MVC laurels three times as she garnered top billing in the conference in 2007-08 with her selection as the Prairie Farms MVC Scholar Athlete of the Year.