LAS VEGAS – Four players scored double figures as the Drake University women's basketball team held off Tulsa, 91-80, in the first game of the Lady Rebel Round-Up Saturday afternoon at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas.
 
The win improved Drake to 5-0 overall as it moves on to face the tournament host, UNLV also at 5-0, Sunday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. in the tournament title game.
 
Maddy Dean (Jordan, Minn.) scored 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for her first double-double of 2015, all 10 of rebounds came in the second half and included three offensive boards. Freshman Sara Rhine (Eldon, Mo.) recorded her first career double double-with 14 points and 12 doubles.
 
Lizzy Wendell (Blue Springs, Mo.) chipped in 17 points. Caitlin Ingle (Runnells, Iowa) posted a solid stat sheet with 10 points, nine rebounds, seven rebounds and two steals. Tulsa (1-4) was led in scoring by Ashley Clark's game-high 22 points.
 
"Tulsa is a great team and they exposed us in a lot of areas today and they are a team we haven't seen yet, who are very athletically and push the tempo," said Drake head coach Jennie Baranczyk. "But I'm so proud of our overall today and this is another great team win for us."
 
The game featured nine lead changes and seven ties as both teams had leads in the final two quarters. However, it was Drake who grabbed hold of the game after the seventh tie when Clark knocked down a jumper to make the score 72-72. Rhine followed with a layup and senior Emma Donahue (Naperville, Ill.) knocked down a three. Tulsa later pulled within two points with 4:06 to play, but the Bulldogs outscored the Golden Hurricane, 12-3, to close the game and hold on for the win.
 
The opening two quarters were polar opposites for the Bulldogs as they raced out of the gates, scoring a season-best 31 points in the first quarter. Drake was excellent with ball distribution as it had 12 baskets and 11 assists in the quarter.
 
Tulsa bounced back in the second quarter outscoring Drake, 22-13, as the Golden Hurricane got as close as three points. However, Wendell answered with a three-pointer with seven seconds left to give the Bulldogs a 44-38 lead at halftime. Wendell led the Bulldogs with 11 points while Dean and Rhine chipped in 10 and eight points, respectively.
 
Drake and UNLV are meeting for just third time with the last matchup taking place in 1983. The Lady Rebels have won both previous meetings.