DES MOINES, Iowa - The Drake University women's basketball team opened its Thursday matchup with a 25-5 run and never looked back en route to a 74-60 victory over North Dakota. The win put the Bulldogs at 2-4 on the season.

Drake's defense led the way in the opening half. The Bulldogs held North Dakota to a 17.2 shooting percentage, tallied three blocks and four steals and forced eight turnovers.

"We played great defensively in the first half," said head coach Amy Stephens. "I thought our players showed some real progress on the defensive end."

Senior Rachael Hackbarth (Colgate, Wis./Wisconsin Lutheran) led Drake with 21 points, despite a slow start. The senior didn't score until the 9:17 mark of the first half, but was buoyed by a career night from sophomore Alyssa Marschner (Plymouth, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong) and another sure-shooting affair by junior Stephanie Running (Oak Creek, Wis./Oak Creek)

Marschner scored a career-high 10 points, her first points of the season, on 4-of-6 shooting, including 2-of-2 from three-point range. Running scored Drake's first six points and finished the night with 14 on 6-of-9 shooting. It was Running's third game in double figures this season and second-straight.

"I thought Steph Running was outstanding tonight," Stephens added. "It starts with that 15-foot shot and just goes from there with her."

The Bulldogs never trailed in the contest and tallied season highs in total points (74), assists (20), blocks (5) and three-pointers (7). Drake's 53.8-percent clip from three-point range also was a season-best.

"Our ball movement was really outstanding tonight," Stephens said. "We had 20 assists and we scored some points, even without Rachael having to take over down low."

 The Fighting Sioux were led by Madi Buck's 18 points. Carly Rothfusz chipped in 11.

The Bulldogs host North Dakota State Thursday, Dec. 8 in a 5:05 p.m. matchup.