BROOKINGS, S.D. – The No. 21 Drake University women's basketball team couldn't overcome an early 14-point deficit in an 80-71 road defeat at South Dakota State Saturday afternoon at Frost Arena.
 
Sara Rhine (Eldon, Mo.) scored a game-high 22 points on 8-of-11 shooting and pulled down seven rebounds. Sammie Bachrodt (Wichita, Kan.) equaled her season-high of 15 points and filled the stat sheet with five rebounds, four assists and four steals. Becca Hittner (Urbandale, Iowa) added 12 points.
 
Four Jackrabbits recorded double figures led by Madison Guebert's 21 points, 16 of which came in the first two quarters. The others in double digits were Myah Selland with 16 and Tagyn Larson and Sydney Palmer each had 11 points.

Drake (8-2), which trailed South Dakota State (6-3) by 14 points late in the second quarter, cut the deficit to one-point multiple times in the fourth quarter but couldn't get the lead.
Rhine made a layup with 4:36 remaining in the game that brought Drake to within one at 66-65. However, Guebert beat the buzzer for a short jumper in the lane and then after a Bulldogs' turnover, made a three-pointer after an offensive rebound to extend SDSU's lead to six points, 71-65. Hittner's pair of free throws with two minutes to go made it a four-point game, but the Jackrabbits hit a three and made six free throws down the stretch as the Bulldogs tried to extend the game.
 
South Dakota State led 45-35 at halftime behind hot shooting from the floor and behind the three-point line at 51.5 percent and 43.8 percent, respectively.
 
In the third quarter, after twice closing to five points, Drake was able to end the third quarter on a 10-2 run as it trailed 62-58 heading to the fourth quarter. Bachrodt and Monica Burich (Roseville, Minn.) fueled the run with four and five points, respectively.
 
On the Bulldogs' first possession in the fourth quarter, Hittner knocked down a three-pointer and the lead was just one point, 62-61. Later after an SDSU two, Hittner made two free throws to again pull Drake within one point 64-63.
 
Following Saturday's road game, Drake takes a break for finals before it visits Iowa State Sunday, Dec. 16. Tipoff at Hilton Coliseum is scheduled for 12 p.m.