Thursday, Nov. 24
CANCUN, Mexico – Down three with 17 seconds remaining, Rachael Hackbarth's 21-footer hit the rim and the Drake University women's basketball team dropped its opening game at the Triple Crown Cancun Challenge, 50-47, to Marist. The loss put Drake at 1-3 on the season.
Hackbarth (Colgate, Wis./Wisconsin Lutheran) tallied her fourth double-double of the season with a game-high 19 points and 12 rebounds, but couldn't push the Bulldogs into overtime. The senior scored Drake's final seven points over the game's last 1:33.
Drake trailed 28-17 at half, largely because of its 21.2-percent (7of-33) shooting clip. Marist (2-2) made six first-half three-pointers, compared to just one from Drake.
“We didn't shoot well in the first half,” said head coach Amy Stephens. “We had some poor shot selections and we didn't make the easy buckets.”
The Bulldogs emerged from the locker room and executed a 12-4 run to cut the Red Fox advantage to three, 32-29, with 13:33 remaining.
Marist rebuilt its lead with a 10-3 run, and led by 10, 42-32, with eight minutes left. Freshman Symone Daniels' (Memphis, Tenn./St. Benedict at Auburndale) first-career basket and a three-pointer by redshirt freshman Carly Grenfell (York, Neb./York) brought the Bulldogs within five, 42-37, with 5:42 remaining.
“We like her energy and her athleticism,” said Stephens of Daniels, who totaled two points, an assist and three boards in her collegiate debut. “She had a great week of practice and I'm encouraged by her performance.”
Redshirt junior Brittnye McSparron (Apple Valley, Minn./Eastview) made a three-pointer at the three-minute mark that put the score at 45-40 in favor of Marist and served as Drake's final basket from a player other than Hackbarth. McSparron scored seven points and grabbed a season-high seven rebounds. Kyndal Clark (Webb City, Mo./Webb City) and senior Amber Wollschlager (Milbank, S.D./Milbank) hit a pair of threes each to combine for 12 points.
The Drake defense, behind sophomore Morgan Reid (North Kansas City, Mo/North Kansas City) held preseason Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Player of the Year Corielle Yarde to a season-low 10 points, including just three in the second half.
“I'm really encouraged by our defense,” Stephens added. “We played well on the defensive end for 40 minutes.”
The Bulldogs outrebounded Marist 38-30, including 13-5 on the offensive glass, but trailed at the free throw line (5-of-5 vs. 10-of-11).
Drake wraps up its tour in Cancun with a 1:30 p.m. matchup against Hofstra Friday at 1:30.
