DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University women's basketball team is set to host the Evansville Purple Aces on Sunday. Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. with the contest being televised on Mediacom MC22 and The Valley on ESPN3.
 
Prior to the women's game, the Drake men's basketball team hosts Illinois State at 1 p.m. Fans can show their women's ticket and buy a men's general admission ticket for $5. Men's ticket holders can show their tickets to get a $5 reserved ticket for the women's game. Sunday is also "Youth Day" for both games at the Knapp Center with youth ages 3-18 receiving a free ticket with a paying adult. Mention "Youth Day" to receive offer.
 
Drake (7-5, 0-1 MVC) dropped its Missouri Valley Conference opener Friday to Southern Illinois, 77-67, after nearly rallying from a 13-point fourth quarter deficit. The Bulldogs trailed by just two points with just over two minutes to go after a layup by junior Caitlin Ingle (Runnells, Iowa) and on their next possession had a game-tying layup by junior Lizzy Wendell (Blue Springs, Mo.) waved off on a traveling call. The Salukis scored after the turnover and then made their free throws down the stretch to hold on for the road win.
 
Evansville (1-11, 0-1 MVC) lost at UNI Friday night in its first MVC contest of the season. The Purple Aces haven't won a game since beating Cleveland State back on Nov. 18. However, Evansville edged Drake last season in overtime in a MVC Tournament quarterfinals matchup in St. Charles, Mo. Junior Sara Dickey is averaging a team-high 15.8 points per game along with 4.2 rebounds per game.
 
Wendell scored 16 points in the loss to the Salukis with 14 coming in the fourth quarter. She has scored 10 or more points in 57-straight games, an impressive streak dating back to midway through her freshman season. Ingle added 15 points and five assists against SIU and is now ninth all-time in career assists at Drake with 381.
 
Wendell and Ingle lead The Valley in scoring average and assists per game at 20.5 and 6.5, respectively. Wendell's average is 21^st in the nation while Ingle's ranks 12^th.
 
Following Sunday's game, Drake travels to Missouri State on Jan. 8 at 7 p.m. and will be shown on ESPN3.