DES MOINES, Iowa – In its 2017-18 Missouri Valley Conference opener, the Drake University women's basketball team defeated Valley newcomer Valparaiso, 86-50, Friday evening in the Knapp Center.
 
Drake (6-7, 1-0 MVC) secured its victory behind a 29-of-55 (52.7 percent) shooting performance, including going 14-of-30 (46.7 percent) from beyond the arc. The Bulldogs were led by junior Nicole Miller (Walker, Iowa) with a career-high 18 points. Miller was joined in double-figures by redshirt sophomore Sara Rhine (Eldon, Mo.) and sophomore Becca Hittner (Urbandale, Iowa) who had 15 and 11 points, respectively. Rhine added 11 rebounds for her second double-double of the season. Friday night's victory was the Bulldogs 23rd consecutive Valley win, dating back to last season. 
 
For the eighth time this season the Bulldogs recorded more than 20 assists, totaling 23 on 29 field goals. Redshirt junior Maddy Dean (Jordan, Minn.) dished out a career-high 12 while just missing a points/assist double-double with nine points. Senior Paige Greiner (Williamsburg, Iowa) also recorded nine points shooting a perfect 3-of-3 from behind the three-point line.  Dean, Greiner, Miller and Rhine helped the Bulldogs' bench finish with 56 points to outscore the entire Valparaiso team.

In its MVC debut, Valparaiso (7-5, 0-1 MVC) was led by senior Dani Franklin with nine points and Addison Stoller with eight. Franklin, the Valley's leading scorer at 18.0 points per game, entering Friday's contest was limited to only 24 minutes of action due to foul trouble.

 
After opening the game with a 14-2 lead, Drake continued to dominate the first half shooting 18-of-25 as a team including going 7-of-11 from three. Valparaiso stayed with the Bulldogs holding Drake's lead at 31-16 before a Valparaiso turnover allowed Miller back-to-back layups helping Drake seize the momentum for good on way to a 47-22 halftime lead.
 
Valparaiso matched Drake point-for-point (14-14) in the third quarter before the Bulldogs outscored Valparaiso, 25-14, in the fourth quarter to close out the game.
 
The Bulldogs will continue their homestand hosting Loyola in a New Year's Eve contest on Sunday. Tipoff with the Ramblers is scheduled for 2 p.m.