DES MOINES, Iowa -
The Drake University women's basketball team used a 22-5 second half run to
down Indiana State, 72-67, in a pivotal Missouri Valley Conference matchup
Saturday (Feb. 19) at the Knapp Center. The fifth-place Bulldogs improved to
8-7 in MVC play, extending their lead over the Sycamores (6-8) to a game and a
half.
Drake trailed by nine, 46-37, with 13:19 left in the
contest, when a layup by senior Kristin Turk (Des Moines, Iowa) kicked off the 22-5 run. Turk scored Drake's next
six points and was joined on the run with seven points from junior Rachael Hackbarth (Colgate, Wis.) and
six from Amber Wollschlager (Milbank
S.D.). The stretch lasted nearly nine minutes and gave Drake a 59-51 lead with
4:33 to play.
"Our team really responded to Rachael's [Hackbarth]
emotions," head coach Amy Stephens said. "She was passionate, positive and
fiery."
Hackbarth hit a pair of free throws at the 1:22 mark after
Indiana State had cut the lead to four. She pushed the lead to five with a
layup after a Brittany Schoen three brought the Sycamores within three with
1:13 to go.
Turk took it from there, making five free throws in the
game's final 25 seconds to lead Drake to its eighth MVC win.
Hackbarth totaled 18 points and was a rebound short of a
double-double. Turk led all scorers with 27 points and added seven boards.
Wollschlager put up 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting.
"Getting that third scorer is huge," Stephens added. "It's
what we've been looking for all season."
Indiana State used Schoen's three-point accuracy to build a
19-11 lead during the first 10 minutes of the opening half. Schoen was deadly
from beyond the arch, finishing the game 7-for-14 from three-point range and
leading the Sycamores with 25 points.
Drake rebounded with a 10-2 run to tie the game at 21 with
four minutes remaining in the first half. The teams entered the locker room
with Indiana State clinging to a 29-25 lead.
Drake travels to Missouri State and Wichita State next week.
The Bulldogs meet the Bears Friday (Feb. 25) at 7:05 p.m. and play the Shockers
Sunday (Feb. 27) at 2:05 p.m.
"Our games next weekend are huge," Stephens said. "Seeding
will come down to everyone's final home games."
