DES MOINES, Iowa – After a break for final exams, the Drake University women's basketball team returns to the basketball court Sunday to host Iowa in a game presented by Collins Community Credit Union at 2 p.m. in the Knapp Center. The in-state contest will be broadcast on Mediacom MC22 and on the radio on 1350 ESPN Des Moines.
 
Fans are encouraged to wear white for a "whiteout" and the first 500 fans in the building receive a rally towel as part of Drake's Year of the Fan. Free t-shirts will also be handed out while supplies last.
 
In its last game on Dec. 8, Drake (5-3) cruised past Clarke, 118-43, in the program's annual "Pack the Knapp for Character" Kids Game presented by the YMCA of Greater Des Moines. Nearly 3,000 local elementary and middle school students were treated to a fun day of educational activities and Bulldog basketball for the annual game that took place for the fourth-straight season.
 
Drake had five players finish in double-figure points in the big win over the Crusaders led by senior Lizzy Wendell's (Blue Springs, Mo.) game-high 25 points as the team scored the second-most points in a game in program history. 11 Bulldogs played at least eight minutes and everyone scored at least two points.
 
The all-time series with Iowa (8-3) is tied at 24-24, but the Hawkeyes have won 14-straight games over the Bulldogs. However, the previous two games between the teams have been competitive and high-scoring, including the last game in the Knapp Center on Dec. 21, 2014. Iowa edged Drake, 100-98, as senior Caitlin Ingle (Runnells, Iowa) had a half-court attempt at the buzzer to win the game that fell just short of the rim.
 
The Hawkeyes are led by former Drake head coach Lisa Bluder, who coached Drake from 1990-2000, leading the Bulldogs to three NCAA tournaments and 188 victories. Drake head coach Jennie Baranczyk was one of Bluder's first recruits at Iowa and was a three-time team captain for the Hawkeyes from 2000-04 and helped lead the Hawkeyes to three NCAA tournaments. Baranczyk (Lillis) was an honorable mention All-American in 2003 and a three-time All-Big Ten honoree. Bluder's coaching staff includes former Drake standouts, Jan Jensen and Jenni Fitzgerald.
 
Three Hawkeyes average 10.0 or more points led by senior Ally Disterhoft at 17.3 points per game. Megan Gustafson is next at 16.0 points while pulling down a team-leading 10.5 rebounds per game.
 
Following Sunday's game, Drake travels to New Orleans, La., to play in the Tulane Classic. The Bulldogs open the tournament against Auburn on Dec. 21 at 3 p.m. Drake will then play Eastern Washington or Tulane on Dec. 22 with game time TBA.