DES MOINES, Iowa – In its 2017-2018 season opener, the Drake University women's basketball team held off Milwaukee for its first victory of the season, 77-73, in the opening round of the preseason WNIT.
 
After sitting out most of last season, redshirt sophomore Sara Rhine (Eldon, Mo.) led the Drake (1-0) in her first game back with 19 points on a 9-of-11 shooting performance. Rhine also added a team-high eight rebounds.
 
Junior Sammie Bachrodt (Wichita, Kan.) and sophomore Becca Hittner (Urbandale, Iowa) both recorded each hit double-digits with 13 and 12 points, respectively. In her first career start, sophomore Brenni Rose (Shawnee, Kan.) dished out a game-high five assists while Hittner, Bachrodt and freshman Maddie Monahan (Silver Lake, Minn.) added four each.
 
In head coach Jennie Baranczyk's 100^th career win, all 11 eligible Bulldogs recorded at least two points. Drake racked up 23 assists on 29 field goals while shooting 46.8% from the floor.
 
The Bulldogs got off to a quick start in the first quarter stealing the tip from Milwaukee (0-1) and putting up back-to-back layups. Drake quickly took a 10-6 lead before Milwaukee stormed back with a 12-1 run to take an 18-13 lead at the end of the first quarter. 
 
Drake quickly answered in the second quarter using a 9-4 run to take back the lead, 24-23. Both teams traded baskets until the Bulldogs used back-to-back 3-pointers in a 10-2 run taking a 39-34 lead into halftime.
 
Entering the fourth quarter with a 65-55 lead, Drake was challenged by a resurgent Milwaukee team. Milwaukee opened the fourth quarter outscoring the Bulldogs 12-5, coming within two points with just under two minutes left in the game. Two free throws each by both Rose and redshirt junior Maddy Dean (Jordan, Minn.) in the final 10 seconds locked up the Bulldog victory.
 
Milwaukee was led by senior Steph Kostowicz with a game-high 26 points and 12 rebounds.
 
Following Friday's season opener, the Bulldogs continue play in the WNIT traveling to No. 11 Oregon on Sunday at 4 p.m. CDT.