DES MOINES, Iowa - The Drake University women's basketball team earned a 67-50 Missouri Valley Conference victory over Southern Illinois, Saturday at the Knapp Center. The Bulldogs improved to 11-11 overall and 5-6 in the MVC.

Drake, which wore pink jerseys as part of its annual Hoops 4 Hope game, built a steep lead with a 47-point first half, its highest since a 48-point opening half against Central Michigan, Nov. 26, 2010.

The Bulldogs shot an even 50 percent (16-32) from the floor in the first half.

"It was a terrific start," said head coach Amy Stephens, who improved to 13-4 against the Salukis. "We played a strong first half."

Senior Kristin Turk (Des Moines, Iowa) led three Drake players in double figures with 20 points. Junior Amber Wollschlager (Milbank, S.D.) and sophomore Kayla Person (St. Louis, Mo.) followed Turk on the stat sheet with 11 points each. For Person, the game was her second straight in double figures.

"I'm proud of the way she's playing," Stephens added. "I hope we can take this on the road with us next week."

Turk scored 12 of Drake's first 14 points, including eight straight, to help the Bulldogs build a 14-7 lead early in the first half. A quick 10-0 run, powered by six points from Turk, between the 17:55 and 14:48 marks of the first half gave the Bulldogs a lead they would not lose. Another 10-0 during the final five minutes of the first half helped keep Drake comfortably ahead.

The win was Drake's eighth in the past nine contests against the Salukis. The win took place before an announced crowd of 2,983 people, the largest crowd of the season.

The Bulldogs' game-worn pink jerseys were sold at silent auction during the game, raising nearly 3,500 dollars for the Des Moines Chapter of the America Cancer Society.

Olympic gold medalist Shawn Johnson was in attendance and handed out pink carnations to cancer survivors at halftime as part of the Hoops 4 Hope festivities. Photos of the halftime activities will be available for download on the Drake Athletics Facebook page.