CARBONDALE, Ill. – The Drake University women's basketball team defeated Southern Illinois, 75-64, in Missouri Valley Conference action Sunday afternoon at SIU Arena.
 
Sophomore Becca Hittner (Urbandale, Iowa) led Drake (9-7, 4-0 MVC) in scoring with a game-high 15 points behind a stellar 6-of-10 shooting performance. Hittner added seven rebounds, handed out a career-high seven assists and nabbed three steals. For the second straight game, three other Bulldogs joined Hittner in double figures as junior Sammie Bachrodt (Wichita, Kan.) scored 13 points, redshirt junior Becca Jonas (Independence, Mo.) had 11 points and redshirt sophomore Sara Rhine (Eldon, Mo.) scored 10 points.
 
Freshman Maddie Monahan (Silver Lake, Minn.) and sophomore Brenni Rose (Shawnee, Kan.) just missed double digits as they each recorded nine points. Monahan shot an efficient 4-of-6 from the floor and sparked the Bulldogs' defense with a career-high three steals, including two that led to layups for her. As a team, Drake had 15 steals which helped the Bulldogs score 34 points.
 
With its fourth-consecutive win, Drake sits atop the MVC standings as SIU (8-7, 3-1 MVC) moves into third place tie with Missouri State. Senior Kylie Giebelhausen and freshman Makenzie Silvey led the Salukis with 13 points each.
 
Jonas made a three-pointer six seconds into the game and Rose made her own three beating the first quarter buzzer to give Drake a 23-18 lead after one period. The Bulldogs held a 38-32 halftime lead and the two teams traded baskets in the third quarter until late in the period. SIU trailed by five points with 4:29 to go, but the Bulldogs ripped off 12-1 scoring run capped off by Jonas' career-tying second three-pointer and one free throw, as the team held their largest lead.
 
Drake maintained its double-figure advantage the entire fourth quarter to earn the road win. The Bulldogs had four players each make at least two three-pointers as they made 10 as a team. One of the nation's top assists per game units, Drake tallied 23 on 28 field goals.
 
Following Sunday's game, Drake returns to the Knapp Center to host Indiana State on Jan. 12. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.