OMAHA, Neb. – The Drake University women's basketball team dropped a back-and-forth non-conference road contest against former Missouri Valley Conference rival Creighton, 80-77, Thursday night at D.J. Sokol Arena.
 
Trailing by one-point, Drake (1-1) had two opportunities to take the lead in the final six seconds of the game. Sophomore Sara Rhine (Eldon, Mo.) missed a jumper with six seconds left and senior Lizzy Wendell (Blue Springs, Mo.) had her shot blocked with two seconds on the clock as Creighton (1-2) held on for its first win of the season.
 
Senior Caitlin Ingle (Runnells, Iowa) tied her career-high with a game-high 20 points while senior Lizzy Wendell (Blue Springs, Mo.) added 19 points. Sophomore Sammie Bachrodt (Wichita, Kan.) scored a career-high 16 points behind a career-best three three-pointers. Bachrodt made 6-of-8 shots including 3-of-4 from three-point line. Rhine had 11 points.
 
The exciting game between the longtime rivals featured 14 lead changes and seven ties. The Bluejays led by 11 points midway through the third quarter, but the Bulldogs closed the period on a 4-0 scoring run and made two defensive stops to only trail, 65-60, heading to fourth quarter.
 
Bachrodt knocked a three-pointer to open the fourth quarter, but Creighton built another six-point lead with 5:41 to play. However, Drake roared back with an 8-0 scoring run on a jumper by Rhine and three-pointers by Bachrodt and Wendell as the Bulldogs led 77-75 with 2:56 to play.
 
Drake hit a tough stretch after taking the lead as the Bulldogs were held scoreless the rest of the game. During the scoring drought, the team had three-pointer attempts, two by Wendell and sophomore Nicole Miller (Walker, Iowa), that came so close to going in but rimmed out.
 
Bachrodt added four steals and five rebounds while Wendell handed out seven assists and pulled down seven rebounds.
 
Drake visits Iowa State on Sunday for another challenging non-conference contest. Tipoff against the Cyclones is set for 6 p.m.