DES MOINES, Iowa – Sophomore Lizzy Wendell (Blue Springs, Mo.) poured in a game-high 33 points to help lift the Drake women's basketball team past Wisconsin, 89-77, Sunday (Nov. 23) afternoon at the Knapp Center in front of 2,430 fans.
Wendell was one of four Bulldogs to score in double-figures against the Badgers. Fellow sophomore Caitlin Ingle (Runnells, Iowa) had 14 points and 12 assists to tally her third career points/assists double-double. Wendell knocked down a career-best 14 field goals and added five steals and three rebounds in 32 minutes played.
Drake (1-3) also had big games from its three freshmen as Becca Jonas (Independence, Mo.) finished with 13 points along with pulling down five rebounds and dishing out three assists, while Maddy Dean (Jordan, Minn.) added 13 points off the bench. Paige Greiner (Williamsburg, Iowa) knocked down two three-pointers, including one at the buzzer before halftime to push Drake to a 43-38 lead at the break.
Wisconsin (1-2) had four players in double-digits led by Michala Johnson with 17 points, but just four of those came in the second half.
Drake blistered the nets in the opening stanza as it finished 18-of-30 (60 percent) from the floor, including 6-of-11 (54.5 percent) from beyond the arc. The team cooled off slightly as it ended the game at 53 percent (35-of-66) from the field and 47.4 percent (9-of-19) from the three-point line.
In the first half, Wendell led all scorers with 16 points on 7-of-10 (70 percent) shooting, while Ingle scored six early points and added four assists as the point guard continuously set up the Drake offense.
To start the second half, Wendell picked up where she left off as she scored the team's first seven points as Drake used a 12-2 run to grab control of the contest. The Bulldogs would lead by as many as 16 points, and the closest Wisconsin came was pulling to within eight points (67-59) with 10:43 minutes to play in the game.
The Bulldogs always had a response for the Badgers; including hitting key free throws down the stretch as they finished with a stellar 9-of-10 (90 percent) mark from the charity line in the second half. Drake outrebounded Wisconsin, 36-24, and collected 15 second chance points.
Drake started the game with hot shooting and tight defense as the Bulldogs built an 11-5 lead behind 63 percent shooting and forcing two Wisconsin turnovers. Dean extended the Drake lead to 17-13 on a tough pull-up jumper over two Wisconsin defenders.
Drake travels to the UTSA Thanksgiving Classic for two games next week. First is a matchup with the host UTSA Roadrunners on Nov. 28 at 2:30 p.m. The Bulldogs close the tournament with a contest against Fordham on Nov. 30 at 2:30 p.m. Drake has never played UTSA or Fordham.
