By Megan Leverenz
DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University women's basketball team pulled away in second half to defeat UNI, 87-67, with the support of 3,418 fans at the program's “Pack the Knapp Pink Game” Friday, Feb. 13, at the Knapp Center. It was the second-highest crowd of the season for Drake (16-7, 11-1 Missouri Valley Conference) behind the annual “Pack the Knapp Game” against Northwestern on Dec. 18.
Drake sophomore Lizzy Wendell (Blue Springs, Mo.) contributed 30 points and has now recorded double figures in 37 straight games. Her outstanding performance against UNI (12-11, 8-4 MVC) is her league-best fifth game of scoring 30 or more points. She added four rebounds, four assists, two blocks and one steal.
Freshman Maddy Dean (Jordan, Minn.) added her second consecutive double-double, scoring 23 points and pulling down 10 rebounds. She has now recorded double figures in eight straight games, dating back to the first game against UNI on Jan. 16.
Freshman Becca Jonas (Independence, Mo.) stole the ball early in the first half fueling the Bulldogs' first three-pointer of the game by senior Liza Heap (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) followed by an additional three-pointer from Wendell, giving Drake an early 8-4 lead over UNI. Wendell later swatted a block that gave Drake possession of the ball as the Bulldogs grabbed a 17-12 advantage at the under-12 timeout.
UNI senior Brittni Donaldson tied it up with a deep three making it 17-17. Sophomore Caitlin Ingle (Runnells, Iowa) was quick to respond with a layup to extend the lead to 19-17. Shortly after, she swooped in with a defensive rebound, and then handed it off to redshirt senior Carly Grenfell (York Neb.) for a layup with eight minutes remaining in the half.
Wendell and Dean each scored five points late in the first half as Drake would lead by 11 points at 34-23 with just under two minutes to go, but UNI responded with a 7-0 run narrowing the deficit to 36-33 in favor of Drake at halftime.
Dean opened the second half with a key block giving Drake early momentum as Wendell put in two layups, two free throws and a pair of three-pointers for 12 of the Bulldogs' first 14 points of the half.
Ingle hit a jumper in the paint and shortly after threw a breakaway pass to Wendell, who made an easy layup, giving Drake a 16-point lead, 64-48, with just over 10 minutes remaining in the game.
Later Dean was fouled on her way to the hoop and converted a three-point play giving the Bulldogs its largest lead at 23 points, 86-63, with just 2:12 left in the game. Shortly after Drake head coach Jennie Baranczyk went to her bench to put in her reserves, including sophomore Cortni Rush (Mason City, Iowa), who hadn't played since the Iowa game on Dec. 21.
The Bulldogs continue their MVC season Friday, Feb. 20 against visiting Evansville at the Knapp Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. and the contest will be show online on ESPN3.com.
