DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University women's basketball team never trailed against visiting Bradley University as Drake claimed an 86-70 victory Thursday evening at the Knapp Center.
The Bulldogs' unselfish effort on the court against the Braves resulted in 25 assists on 32 made field goals as they secured No. 2 seed at next week's Missouri Valley Conference Tournament at Family Arena in St. Charles, Mo. Drake will play March 14 at 6:05 p.m. against the winner of the No. 7 vs. No. 10 play-in game on March 13.
Drake (19-9, 14-3 MVC) had three players finish in double figures. Freshman Becca Jonas (Independence, Mo.) scored a team-high 19 points and added three rebounds and two steals. Sophomore Lizzy Wendell (Blue Springs, Mo.) contributed 17 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals. Freshman Caitlin Ingle (Runnells, Iowa) followed with 15 points, nine rebounds, nine assists and two steals in just 24 minutes. She narrowly missed her second career triple-double.
Bradley (6-22, 5-12 MVC) redshirt sophomore Whitney Tinjum (Stacy, Minn.) led the Braves with 18 points on 8-of-16 shooting and added eight rebounds.
Ingle took the first drive of the game down the lane, passing it off Jonas who contributed the first points. Freshman Maddy Dean (Jordan, Minn.) added a jumper from the left wing that kick started a powerful 23-4 opening run. Jonas and senior Liza Heap (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) each contributed six points during that span giving Drake a 27-8 advantage with nine minutes remaining in the first half. Heap finished the game with six points behind a season-high two three-pointers.
Jonas added two points from inside the paint with an assist by Ingle. Wendell followed with a steal and converted a layup, maintaining Drake's lead, 31-16, with just over five minutes left in the first half.
Later, redshirt senior Carly Grenfell (York, Neb.) made a three-pointer, giving Drake a 12-point advantage going into halftime, leading 39-27.
The Bulldogs put away 7-of-26 total three-pointers, shooting at 27 percent. They shot 53 percent from the field, converting on 32-of-60 field goals. Drake was also able to score 25 points off of Bradley's 18 turnovers.
Early in the second half, Drake took off with a 10-0 run, kick started by a layup from Ingle and a three-pointer by Wendell, giving Drake a 20-point lead and a 51-31 advantage.
Wendell contributed five more points with a three-pointer and layup, allowing Drake a commanding 66-45 lead, 12 minutes into the second half. The Bulldogs and Braves continued to swap baskets, with Drake constantly keeping a minimum14-point lead. During that time, senior Cara Lutes (Maplewood, Minn.) contributed four points and junior Emma Donahue (Naperville, Ill.) converted a jumper off the bench.
The Bulldogs will play their last contest of the regular season at the Knapp Center this Saturday, March 7 against Loyola with tipoff with the Ramblers scheduled for 2:05 p.m. Following the conclusion of the game a senior recognition ceremony for Grenfell, Heap, Lutes and Bry Mueller (DePere, Wis.) will be held on the Knapp Center floor.
