DES MOINES, Iowa - The Drake University women's basketball team struggled to find its offensive rhythm  in the second half, falling to Evansville, 70-59, in its final regular season game Saturday afternoon at the Knapp Center.

Junior Morgan Reid (Kansas City, Mo.) recorded her 10th double-double of the season with 15 points and a career-high 15 rebounds, both team-highs for Drake (10-19, 5-13 MVC). Junior Mary Pat Specht (Shawnee, Kan.) added 11 points, many of which came at key moments in the game.

"She has continued to improve this year," said Drake coach Jennie Baranczyk about Morgan Reid. "I wish we would have done a better job of following her today because she brought us great effort and energy today."

Freshman Ashley Bartow (Sun Prairie, Wis.) had 11 points and senior Stephanie Running (Oak Creek, Wis.) scored six points and grabbed three boards in her final home game.

Evansville (9-20, 7-11 MVC) went on a 7-0 scoring run in the final five minutes of game to create separation. Drake was held scoreless for two and a half minutes as the Purple Aces took control of the game.

Drake had difficulties containing Evansville's forwards, with three Aces scoring in double figures. Meagan Collins and Samantha Heck scored 20 and 19 points, respectively. Taylor Ware added 10 points.

The teams shot similar percentages in the first half with Evansville at 48.1 percent and Drake at 45.8 percent. The Bulldogs struggled from the field in the second half, shooting 27.6 percent from the floor and connecting on just 1-of-15 from the three-point line. Drake finished the game at 35.2 percent from the field, while Evansville shot 50 percent.

"Up until today we have been playing some of our best basketball," Baranczyk said. "We have really controlled the tempo and gotten up and down the floor well. Today we struggled with our shooting in the second half and I think part of that was Evansville and part of that was us."

Back-to-back three-pointers from Specht broke a four-minute scoring drought for the Bulldogs, who trailed by eight points late in the first half. Her buckets started a run in which the Bulldogs outscored the Aces by six in the final five minutes of the half to trail by two points at halftime, 34-32.

Drake will play Missouri State in the opening round of the 2013 MVC Championship in St. Charles, Mo. next Thursday, March 14 at 4:05 p.m. The Bulldogs and the Lady Bears split their regular season matchups with each team winning at home.

"Today we didn't have it but we will take tomorrow off and rest up and get right back at it Monday at practice getting ready for Thursday's game," said Baranczyk.