Box Score DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University women's basketball rallied past the Drake women's basketball team by a score of 87-73 Saturday night at the Convocation Center in DeKalb, Ill.
Drake (7-3) junior
Lizzy Wendell (Blue Springs, Mo.) scored 25 points with four rebounds and four assists in the road loss while sophomore
Maddy Dean (Jordan, Minn.) recorded a double-double with 10 points and 14 rebounds.
Junior guard
Caitlin Ingle (Runnells, Iowa) added 12 points. Wendell has now scored 20-plus points in five games this season. Freshman
Sara Rhine (Eldon, Mo.) chipped in eight points and seven boards.
Wendell helped power Drake to a 27-16 lead after the first quarter leading all scorers with nine points in the quarter as six other Bulldogs scored. Drake finished at 50 percent from the floor with nine baskets and six assists.
NIU climbed back in the game outscoring Drake, 23-14, in the second quarter. The Bulldogs battled shooting woes in the second quarter as they made just 5-of-22 from the floor, and missed all nine of their three-point attempts. Ingle scored with just two seconds to go in the half to give Drake a 41-39 lead at the break.
Drake started the the third quarter with two quick baskets in the first 44 seconds to take a 45-41 and later led by two points after a pair of Wendell free throws with 6:54 in the quarter. However, NIU seized control with a 19-3 scoring run to close out the period taking a 67-54 lead.
NIU stretched its lead to as many as 17 points in the fourth before Drake mounted a rally attempt to decrease the Huskies' lead to nine points with just under two minutes left in the game. NIU held off the late Drake charge to earn its first win in the all-time series between the two schools.
Jasmine Harris had 20 points to pace NIU as the Huskies finished with five players in double figures.
Drake completes its non-conference schedule at Iowa on Tuesday (Dec. 22) with tipoff set for 5 p.m. The game will be shown online via BTN2Go and broadcasted on the radio on Praise 940.
The Bulldogs will then have an extended break before starting league play at the Knapp Center on Jan. 1 as they welcome SIU for a 2 p.m. contest. The New Years Day matinee with the Salukis will be available via ESPN3.
