DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University women's basketball team rallied from a halftime deficit to beat Indiana State, 76-62, Sunday afternoon, Jan. 22, at the Knapp Center for its eighth-straight win in Missouri Valley Conference play.

Senior Caitlin Ingle (Runnells, Iowa) had a game-high of nine assists in addition to her 13 points, eight rebounds and three steals. Ingle's near triple-double helped her become the MVC's all-time leader in career assists with 687. She eclipsed Melanie Boeglin of Indiana State (685, 2002-06). Drake's Connie Newlin (1978-82) has the school's top total with 767.
 
The comeback victory sets up a showdown next week between the MVC's two undefeated teams in conference play as Drake (15-4, 8-0 MVC) travels to Cedar Falls to take on UNI (15-4, 8-0 MVC) on Friday, Jan. 27.
 
Drake saw five ties and eight lead changes in the first two quarters of the game against Indiana State (10-8, 4-3 MVC). The Bulldogs led 37-34 with just under four minutes left in the second quarter, but suffered a scoring drought for the remainder of the quarter as the Sycamores locked down the lead for the first half at 41-37 behind a 7-0 closing run.
 
Indiana State scored the first points of the third quarter, but an offensive outburst followed for the Bulldogs who answered with an 8-0 run to claim a 45-43 lead. Indiana State quickly tied the contest at 45-all, but Drake again responded this time with back-to-back three-pointers by senior Lizzy Wendell (Blue Springs, Mo.) and freshman Becca Hittner (Urbandale, Iowa) to take the lead that carried throughout the rest of the second half and secured the lead that would ultimately win the game.  
 
The Bulldogs were once again paced in scoring by Wendell with a game-high of 29 points. Wendell moved to third all-time in MVC history in career points with 2,289 moving past Casey Garrison of Missouri State (2,271, 2008-12)
 
Hittner led the team with nine rebounds and added 14 points. Hittner also recorded three steals and a career-best five assists in the Bulldogs' ninth-consecutive win.
 
As a team, Drake shot 92.3 percent at the free throw line with 12-of-13 shooting. They also registered 20 points off turnovers, nine fast-break points and ten steals.
 
Tipoff at the McLeod Center in Cedar Falls is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the game will be broadcast live on The Valley on ESPN3 and on radio 1350-AM ESPN Des Moines.