DES MOINES, Iowa -
A career night from sophomore Kayla Person (St. Louis, Mo.) and 28 points from Senior Kristin Turk (Des Moines, Iowa) propelled the Drake University
women's basketball team to a 63-55 Missouri Valley Conference victory over
Evansville Thursday night (Feb. 3) at the Knapp Center. The win snapped a
five-game losing streak for the Bulldogs.
Person scored a career-high 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting
from the point guard position. Turk added 28 points, tying the fourth-highest
offensive output of her career.
"She did a terrific job," said head coach Amy Stephens of
Person. "She really had control at the point."
Junior Rachael Hackbarth (Colgate, Wis.) tallied 12 points and 11 rebounds for her second-straight
double-double and fifth of the season.
"I thought Rachael [Hackbarth] was fantastic," said
Stephens. "We need that consistent scoring and rebounding from her.
The Bulldogs (10-11, 4-6 MVC), taking their lead from
Person, cut their turnovers from 11 in the first half to just four in the
second. Person totaled five turnovers in the first half and none in the second.
"It was something we preached in the locker room," Stephens
added.
Drake gained a six-point lead, 40-34, at the 14 minute mark
of the second half. Evansville posted an 8-2 run over the next three minutes to
tie the game at 42. The teams traded baskets to end up tied, 53-53 with 3:30
left in the game. Drake orchestrated a 10-2 run to close the contest, leaning
on six points from Turk and a momentum-grabbing layup by junior Amber Wollschlager (Milbank, S.D.).
"We got a little better down the stretch," Stephens said. "I
thought our defense stepped up."
The Purple Aces (7-14, 2-8 MVC) were led by Briyana Blair
with 16 points and Staci Gillum with 12 points.
The win was Drake's eighth-straight over Evansville,
extending the team's longest active winning streak against any opponent.
The Bulldogs host Southern Illinois in the annual Hoops 4 Hope
game Saturday (Feb. 5) at 5 p.m. Drake will wear special pink jerseys, which
will be auctioned following the game to benefit the American Cancer Society.
Olympic Gold Medalist and Des Moines native Shawn Johnson will be present.
