DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University women's basketball team never trailed as it cruised past Indiana State, 85-64, Friday night in Missouri Valley Conference action at the Knapp Center.
 
Drake (10-7, 5-0 MVC) was led by redshirt sophomore Sara Rhine (Eldon, Mo.), who recorded her fourth double-double of the season with a game-high 24 points and 10 rebounds. Redshirt junior Becca Jonas (Independence, Mo.) added a season-high 16 points on 7-of-7 shooting and in just 16 minutes. Sophomore Brenni Rose (Shawnee, Kan.) chipped in 12 points. Junior Sammie Bachrodt (Wichita, Kan.) nearly finished with a triple-double with nine points, nine rebounds and a career-tying seven assists
 
Senior Wendi Bibbins led Indiana State (3-12, 1-3 MVC) with 18 points. Ty Battle and Alexis Delgado each scored 10 points.
 
The two teams traded baskets to start the game before Drake ran off an 11-2 scoring run, which included four layups and a three-pointer by senior Paige Greiner (Williamsburg, Iowa) as the Bulldogs led 20-8 with 3:10 left in the first quarter. In the second quarter, the Sycamores fought back to pull within just three points with 2:09 left in the period, but Drake closed with six consecutive points to lead 45-36 at halftime.
 
Drake broke the game open in the third quarter outscoring Indiana State, 22-12, to lead by 19 points. Seven different Bulldogs scored in the decisive quarter as Jonas led the way by scoring six points. Drake then started the fourth quarter with a 10-2 scoring run and later led by as many as 28 points on its way to winning its fifth consecutive game. The Bulldogs are alone in first place in the MVC after Bradley (9-6, 3-1 MVC) lost to SIU Friday night.
 
Drake dominated the paint with 54 points, handed out 26 assists on 32 field goals and controlled the glass with a 44-31 advantage. As a team, the Bulldogs made 17-of-18 from the free throw line and shot a season-high 55.2 percent from the floor (32-of-58).
 
Drake welcomes Evansville Sunday for a 2 p.m. matinee at the Knapp Center.