DES MOINES, Iowa – After battling through a game that saw 15 ties and 11 lead changes, the Drake University women's basketball team finished the regular season on a winning note Saturday afternoon, knocking off the Loyola Ramblers in overtime, 74-70, at the Knapp Center.
The Bulldogs trailed by two points, 61-59, with 2.8 seconds remaining in regulation, but freshman Becca Jonas (Independence, Mo.) forced overtime by banking in a layup as the buzzer sounded. Jonas carried Drake (20-9, 15-3 MVC) offensively for much of the game, as she tallied 19 points and grabbed a career-high 19 rebounds.
Sophomore Lizzy Wendell (Blue Springs, Mo.) was the difference-maker in overtime for the Bulldogs, scoring nine points in the extra session. Wendell, who was held scoreless in the first half, finished with 20 points and shelled out the game's most important assist. After catching a long inbounds that travel three quarters from sophomore Caitlin Ingle (Runnells, Iowa), she found Jonas for the game-tying bucket as time expired.
“We had that play drawn up,” Wendell said. “Becca set a good screen for me to get me open for the long pass from Caitlin. Two girls came with me and (Becca) yelled for the ball. I saw her and hit her underneath for the bucket.”
Once in overtime, senior Carly Grenfell (York, Neb.) was also big for the Bulldogs, as she hauled in two key offensive rebounds and hit two big free throws.
By defeating the Ramblers, Drake will head to the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament with 20 wins, marking the first time a Bulldog squad has eclipsed the 20-win plateau since the 2007-08 season. The 15 wins in conference play is the most since the 2001-02 team also had 15 MVC victories.
Taylor Johnson paced Loyola (5-24, 3-15 MVC), scoring 20 points and dishing out six assists. Taylor Manuel contributed 19 points and 11 rebounds for the Ramblers.
Loyola led for much of the games first twenty minutes, as Drake didn't take its first lead of the game until 4:51 left in the first half on a Jonas layup. That bucket was part of a 9-0 Bulldog run that led to a momentary 20-16 advantage. Loyola then used a quick 6-0 spurt before Ingle hit a turnaround jumper in the lane with just seconds left in the half to tie the game, 22-22, at halftime.
Ingle also made some big baskets late in the second half for Drake, as she rolled in back-to-back contested layups to tie-up the score, 57-57, with just over two minutes remaining. The sophomore guard then made two clutch free throws with 19 seconds left in regulation to again tie the game, this time at 59-59.
“I love our fight,” Drake head coach Jennie Baranczyk said. “I love that we grew in this game. They never stopped believing—they just didn't. I'm really, really happy we were able to pull out this win because it was a tough one.”
Saturday's dramatic regular season finale was memorable because of the Senior Day ceremony that followed. Grenfell, Liza Heap (Highlands Ranch, Colo.), Cara Lutes (Maplewood, Minn.) and Bry Mueller (DePere, Wis.) walked off the Knapp Center floor winners in their final home games.
“They're four really special people,” Wendell said of the four-member senior class. “We love them and they've led us so well. We really wanted to get the win for them today and we're glad we did. It's really special getting this win for them.”
The Bulldogs did not lose at home in conference play this season, going a perfect 9-0 at the Knapp Center. The last time a Drake team went through conference play with an unblemished home record was during the 2003-04 campaign.
With the regular season now complete, the Bulldogs head to St. Charles, Mo., as the No. 2 seed for the MVC Tournament and avoid the play-in game for the second consecutive season.
“I'm excited about our seed,” Baranczyk said. “We need to start peaking at the right time and that's what I'm hoping we're going to do when we get down to St. Charles.”
Drake will play at 6:07 p.m. on March 13 at Family Arena against the winner of No. 7 Evansville versus No. 10 Illinois State. Every game in St. Charles will be broadcast on ESPN3 and you can listen to Ric Silvestrini and Molly Nelson call the action on 1350 KRNT.
