CHICAGO – The No. 25 Drake University women's basketball team tied the program's all-time winning streak at 16 victories in a row with its 86-42 win at Loyola on Sunday, Feb. 19 afternoon at Gentile Arena. Drake improved to 22-4 and 15-0 in Missouri Valley Conference action. The 1996-97 Drake team had a 16-game winning streak.
 
Senior Lizzy Wendell (Blue Springs, Mo.) scored a game-high 19 points and added a season-high seven assists and four rebounds. Wendell had one steal and moved to third all-time in career steals with 251. She broke a tie with Jennie Fitzgerald (1986-1990).
 
Sophomore Sammie Bachrodt (Wichita, Kan.) matched her career-high with 17 points and added three rebounds, two assists and two steals. Freshman Becca Hittner (Urbandale, Iowa) recorded her fourth career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Every available Bulldog scored and played at least 12 minutes.  
 
Drake claimed a 25-10 lead after one quarter of play. The Bulldogs shot the basketball well going 50.0 percent (10-of-20) from the floor with two three-pointers. Drake handed out eight assists on the 10 field goals as six different Bulldogs scored led by Wendell with seven points. Loyola (2-23, 1-13 MVC) made just two field goals and had six turnovers that resulted in 11 points for Drake.
 
Drake applied even tougher defensive pressure in the second quarter as Loyola didn't score until there was 3:33 left in the period. The Ramblers scored just two points in the second as the Bulldogs led 46-12 at halftime. The two points are a season-low allowed by Drake in a quarter. Nine players scored in the first two quarters led by Wendell's game-high 13 points.
 
The Bulldogs led by as many as 45 points late in the fourth quarter on the way to their 10^th straight road win. They outgained the Ramblers, 52-10, in the paint while their bench had 24 points to zero points for Loyola. Drake forced 18 turnovers and scored 27 off the mistakes. Drake shot 54.0 percent (34-of-63) from the floor.
 
Following Sunday's game, Drake hosts UNI in its annual Pink Game presented by Mercy Medical Center. Tipoff against the Panthers is scheduled for 7 p.m. and it will be broadcast on The Valley on ESPN3.