EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Sophomore Lizzy Wendell (Blue Springs, Mo.) scored a game-high 20 points for the Drake women's basketball team in a 74-60 loss at Southern Illinois Edwardsville on Thursday, Nov. 20.
Trailing by 20 points in the second half, Drake (0-3) was able to pull within 10 points (65-55) with two minutes remaining in the contest. Unfortunately it would be as close as the Bulldogs could get as SIUE (1-3) pulled away in the final minutes to win its home opener.
“We gave ourselves a chance in the second half when we pulled to within 10 points, but we have to cut the lead a little bit earlier,” said head coach Jennie Baranczyk of her team's late charge.
SIUE, which led for just over 39 minutes of the game, had four players in double-figures with Gwen Adams pacing the Cougars' offense with 17 points. SIUE outrebounded Drake, 53-39, and knocked down 19 free throws.
“We have to understand the importance of doing all the little things,” said Baranczyk. “It comes down to free throws, we can't go 6-of-16 and miss several front-ends of one-and-ones. That right there is a huge difference along with our rebounding. I was very disappointed in our rebounding tonight. We have to figure out a way to change that.”
The Bulldogs were just 6-of-16 (37.5 percent) from the free throw line, and only made 6-of-29 (20.7 percent) from beyond the arc.
Sophomore Caitlin Ingle (Runnells, Iowa) was the other Bulldogs to record double-figure points as she had 12 points.
The Bulldogs fell behind 11-1 early in the contest and later 23-8 as the Cougars added to their lead. A layup by Becca Jonas (Independence, Mo.), a three-pointer by Maddy Dean (Jordan, Minn.) and a layup by Carly Grenfell (York, Neb.) fueled a 7-0 run as they cut the deficit to 23-15 at the under-eight timeout.
Grenfell later drilled a three-pointer from the right wing that forced SIUE to call a timeout leading, 30-19, with 4:17 to go in the first half. But the Cougars answered with a 9-4 run to end the half to claim a 39-23 advantage at the break.
In the second half, freshman Paige Greiner (Williamsburg, Iowa) knocked down a wide open three-pointer to cut the Bulldogs' deficit to 65-53 at the final media timeout. Ingle added a jumper to make the score 65-55.
After two games in three days, Drake finishes its busy week with a home contest against the Wisconsin Badgers of the Big Ten on Sunday, Nov. 23. Tip-off is slated for 2:05 p.m. in the Knapp Center.
Two specials ticket promotions are available for fans for the game on Sunday as they can purchase a Family Four Pack for the game. For $30.00 you receive four reserved tickets, four hot dogs and four sodas. Call 515-271- DOGS (3647) or go online here to purchase this deal. For online purchases use the special offer code FAMILY.
Also on Sunday Drake's SAAC is holding its annual food drive benefiting the Iowa Food Bank. Any fan that brings three cans of non-perishable food items will receive a voucher to attend the next Drake home game against Colorado State (Dec. 1) for free.
