DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University women's basketball team returns home to the Knapp Center to host Evansville on Jan. 6 at 7 p.m. The Missouri Valley Conference game will be broadcast online via The Valley on ESPN3 and on the radio on ESPN Des Moines 1350-AM.
 
Drake (9-4, 2-0 MVC) started 2017 with a 90-64 win over Missouri State on New Year's Day. For the second-consecutive game, the Bulldogs never trailed as they led the Bears by 39 points at one point in the fourth quarter.
 
Five players scored in double-figures led by senior Lizzy Wendell (Blue Springs, Mo.) who finished with a game-high 22 points. It is the 62nd time in her outstanding career Wendell has scored 20 or more points in a game. She moved past former Illinois State standout Kristi Cirone (2,139) to fourth all-time in MVC history in career points with 2,147.
 
Rounding out the double-digit group was freshman Becca Hittner (Urbandale, Iowa) who finished one point shy of her career-high with 18 points, redshirt sophomore Becca Jonas (Independence, Mo.) was next with 12 points followed by sophomores Nicole Miller (Walker, Iowa) and Sammie Bachrodt (Wichita, Kan.) with 11 and 10 points, respectively. Junior Paige Greiner (Williamsburg, Iowa) just missed joining the group with a season-high nine points. Jonas added 10 rebounds to record her 11th career double-double and first since her freshman season.
 
Senior point guard Caitlin Ingle (Runnells, Iowa) equaled her career-high with 15 assists, and it is the fourth time in her decorated career she has hit the mark. Ingle and her teammates have shared this season as she and the team are tied for second in the nation in assists at 8.5 and 21.3 per game, respectively. Wendell, who leads the MVC and ranks seventh in the country in scoring at 22.2 points per game, continues to show she is more than just a scorer as she is averaging 3.2 assists to rank fourth in the league.  
 
Evansville started the season with five-straight losses, but has wins in seven of its last eight games to compile a 7-6 overall record. The Purple Aces' lone loss during that span was at then No. 8 Louisville on Dec. 18. Evansville opened MVC play with home wins over Indiana State and Loyola. Seniors Sara Dickey and Camary Williams pace the Purple Aces in scoring at 16.8 and 16.4 points per game. Williams averages 7.3 rebounds and a nation-leading 5.15 steals per game. Head coach Matt Ruffing had the interim tag removed on Dec. 21 after serving in that role since late last season.
 
Drake continues its two-game homestand on Sunday evening when it welcomes Southern Illinois to the Knapp Center. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. and will follow the Drake men's basketball team who hosts Evansville at 3 p.m.