DES MOINES, Iowa – Raeshel Contreras made the game deciding three-pointer with 19 seconds left as the South Dakota Coyotes held on for an 83-78 victory over the Drake Bulldogs in the season opener for each team on Friday (Nov. 14) night at the Knapp Center in front of 2,848 fans.
Drake (0-1) fell behind by as many as 12 points early in the second half before coming all the way back to take a 72-71 lead with 4:47 to play. The lead didn't last long as the two teams traded baskets and the lead for the next several minutes.
Drake trailed, 74-72, before freshman Becca Jonas (Independence, Mo.) made a layup and was fouled on the play, but couldn't convert on the ensuing free throw attempt. However, the Bulldogs grabbed the rebound to keep the possession alive. Sophomore Caitlin Ingle (Runnells, Iowa), who sparked Drake in the second half with her defense and passing, was fouled on a drive to the basket and went to the free throw. Ingle made both free throws to put Drake up 76-74.
Unfortunately for Drake, the lead didn't stick as Contreras, who finished the game with a team-high 24 points behind six three-pointers, answered with a three-pointer to give South Dakota (1-0) the lead back, 77-76. Once again Ingle came up big for the Bulldogs as she knocked down a short jumper to push Drake back in front, 78-77.
The Coyotes, a veteran team with 10 juniors and seniors on their roster coming off an NCAA Tournament appearance, forced a Bulldog turnover with 39 seconds remaining. After a 30-second timeout, Contreras knocked down what proved to be the game winner from the right baseline corner.
Drake had a chance with nine seconds to take the lead back, but Lizzy Wendell's (Blue Springs, Mo.) three-point attempt hit the back of the rim as South Dakota grabbed the rebound and went on to make three free throws in the final seconds to close out the win.
Wendell led the Bulldogs with 25 points while senior Kyndal Clark (Webb City, Mo.) scored 17 points. Ingle finished the contest with 11 points, six assists, four rebounds and three steals. Jonas had 10 points in her debut.
South Dakota outrebounded Drake, 45-35, and converted 19 second-chance points. The Bulldogs went 12-of-19 (63.2 percent) from the free throw line, while the Coyotes finished 20-of-27 (74.1 percent). South Dakota received 41 points from its bench led by Kelly Stewart's 15 points.
“They exposed us on a couple of areas, the free throw line and rebounding,” said Drake head coach Jennie Baranczyk. “Those are two areas that we've to make sure that we go back and we hone in and get a little bit tougher in.”
Wendell opened the game with 10 early points to propel Drake to a 21-13 lead with just over 12 minutes remaining in the first half. South Dakota responded with a 15-3 scoring run to take the lead, 28-24, as Drake called its first timeout of the half at the 4:58 mark. The Coyotes extended their advantage to 33-29 off a three-pointer by Heidi Hoff, but Wendell answered with back-to-back buckets to pull within one point at 35-34.
However, South Dakota followed with an 8-0 scoring run to build a 43-34 lead. Drake freshman Maddy Dean (Jordan, Minn.) stopped the run with her second deep three-pointer of the first half, but the Coyotes added another three-pointer to hold a halftime lead of 46-37 lead.
Friday night marked the kickoff of the Drake women's basketball 40th anniversary season, as the Bulldogs will celebrate its rich history all season with special events, promotions and videos.
“We have a great tradition and we have a great foundation,” Baranczyk said. “We have to now build upon it. And so, no matter what, this team is going to leave its own legacy, and to be part of the 40 years is really special. The crowd was great tonight.”
Drake travels to Iowa State on Tuesday, Nov. 18 with tip-off set for 7 p.m. against the Cyclones at Hilton Coliseum.
