DES MOINES, Iowa – Five players scored in double figures for the Drake University women's basketball team in a 102-58 victory over Northwestern College in front of a season-high 4,734 fans Thursday (Dec. 18).
Thursday's contest was the program's annual “Pack the Knapp for Character Counts” game as over 3,300 local elementary and middle school students filled the stands of the Knapp Center. The students were treated to a fun-filled day of educational activities and Bulldog basketball.
“What an awesome atmosphere today,” said Drake head coach Jennie Baranczyk. “The energy in the building was absolutely incredible. This game is a huge part of what we want to be as a program by being a big part of the community. I love the work Character Counts and Drake's marketing department have done by reaching out to so many in the community. It was a special day for the students and for our program.”
Drake (5-5) sophomore Lizzy Wendell (Blue Springs, Mo.) scored a game-high 20 points in 24 minutes, while Becca Jonas (Independence, Mo.) added a career-high 18 points and pulled down a game-high seven boards.
Sophomore Cortni Rush (Mason City, Iowa) and freshman Maddy Dean (Jordan, Minn.) each set career marks with 15 and 14 points, respectively. Redshirt senior Carly Grenfell (York, Neb.) had 12 points off the bench.
Whitne Vander Maten and Morgan VanDerSlooot paced Northwestern (7-6) with 11 points each. The Red Raiders lost their leading scorer Karen Ettleman (24.3) just six minutes in to the game as the senior suffered a leg injury.
The Bulldogs shot a season-best 61 percent and dished out a season-high 31 assists. All 10 Drake players who clocked court time each scored at least two points and played seven or more minutes.
“I was happy with our ball movement and the 31 assists,” Baranczyk said. “We got everyone in to the game and involved today.”
For the third time this season, a Bulldog made a three-pointer to beat the halftime buzzer as Wendell collected a loose ball, gathered herself and launched the ball from well beyond the arc as it hit nothing but the bottom of the net to push Drake to a 52-23 halftime lead over Northwestern.
Drake returns to the court this Sunday, Dec. 21 as the Iowa Hawkeyes are set to visit the Knapp Center. The in-state clash starts at 2:07 p.m. and will be shown throughout the state of Iowa on Mediacom 22.
