EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Freshman Maddy Dean (Jordan, Minn.) had a career day with 23 points and 16 rebounds to help lift the Drake women's basketball team past the Evansville Purple Aces, 79-62, Sunday (Jan. 25) afternoon in Missouri Valley Conference action at the Ford Center. The road win improved Drake to 12-6 and 7-0 in the MVC.
Sophomore Lizzy Wendell (Blue Springs, Mo.) had another great performance with 20 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals. Freshman Becca Jonas (Independence, Mo.) had 18 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and two steals before fouling out of the game. Dean and Jonas each recorded their fifth career double-double.
Sophomore Sara Dickey, who shared MVC freshman of the year honors with Wendell last season, had a game-high 27 points for Evansville (10-9, 5-3 MVC).
The Bulldogs jumped out to a fast start scoring on each of their first three possessions to claim a 7-0 lead as the Purple Aces called a timeout just one minute in. Drake never trailed in the contest and led by as many as 18 points on its way to its seventh-straight win.
Dean made her first four three-pointers and Jonas added six points as Drake held a 19-14 lead at the 11:23 mark. Dating back to Friday night's game at Indiana State, Dean connected on seven three-pointers in a row before missing one with 11:41 left in first half.
Dean and Jonas, who each overcame being held scoreless in the opening half of the Indiana State win before having big second-half performances against the Sycamores, led Drake with 16 and 11 points, respectively, to help the Bulldogs lead 38-23 at halftime. Dean added 11 rebounds to record her fifth career double-double.
Drake held Evansville scoreless the final 4:10 of the opening half. The Purple Aces made just 1-13 to close the half and finished at 26 percent from the floor. Evansville hit just two three-pointers.
Sunday marked the 31st consecutive game, Wendell has scored 10 or more points in a game. She has a MVC-leading 13 20-plus scoring games this season. Freshman Paige Greiner (Williamsburg, Iowa) scored five points in a career-high 27 minutes as she played key minutes in place of Caitlin Ingle (Runnells, Iowa), who battled foul trouble all game before she fouled out. Seniors Carly Grenfell (York, Neb.) and Liza Heap (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) chipped in six and five points, respectively.
Drake returns to the Knapp Center to play the Missouri State Lady Bears on Friday, Jan. 30 at 7:05 p.m.
