DES MOINES, Iowa – South Dakota State defeated the Drake University women's basketball team, 85-78, on Sunday, Dec. 17 at the Knapp Center.
 
For the second consecutive game, Drake (5-6) was led in scoring by sophomore Brenni Rose(Shawnee, Kan.), who finished with 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting to go with a career-high six assists, five rebounds and a career-best three blocks. Redshirt sophomore Sara Rhine (Eldon, Mo.) nearly had a double-double with 15 points and nine rebounds after she missed the previous two games. Junior Sammie Bachrodt (Wichita, Kan.) continued her impressive all-around play this season with 10 points, six assists, five rebounds and two steals.
 
South Dakota State (9-3) capitalized on a season-high 24 turnovers by the Bulldogs and scored 20 points off the miscues. The Jackrabbits had five players score in double figures led by Macy Miller with 20 points.
 
Rose made a three-pointer 22 seconds into the fourth quarter to give Drake a two-point lead, 60-58. SDSU answered with a 7-2 scoring run to lead 65-60 with just over eight minutes left in the game. Rose stepped up again with another three-pointer as the Bulldogs pulled back to within a point, 67-66, with 6:42 on the clock.
 
At the 6:04 mark, Rhine made a basket and was fouled on the play with a block called on SDSU as it looked like Drake could pad its lead with a potential three-point play. However, the foul was reviewed and changed to a charge on Rhine. In addition, a technical foul was called on the Drake bench as the Jackrabbits made both free throws to hold a 69-66 advantage. Drake responded by forcing a turnover on the possession following the technical, but missed its next shot as SDSU went and made a three-pointer right after. Later with less than two minutes to go, the Bulldogs twice pulled within three points but each time the Jackrabbits stretched their advantage back to two possessions as they held on for their first win in the series (1-1).
 
Drake shot 54.0 percent from the floor (27-of-50) and tallied an impressive 26 assists on its 27 field goals. The Bulldogs' bench paced by Rhine scored 33 points as Maddy Dean (Jordan, Minn.) and Nicole Miller (Walker, Iowa) added eight points.
 
Sunday was the program's annual alumni game as Drake women's basketball alums from five different decades were recognized at halftime. Following the game, the annual alumni scrimmage was played on the Knapp Center floor.
 
Following Sunday's home game, Drake closes its non-conference slate at Iowa Dec. 21. Tipoff against the Hawkeyes is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Carver Hawkeye Arena.