CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The Drake University women's basketball team ends its three-game road trip Friday when it travels to UNI in Missouri Valley Conference action. Tipoff with the Panthers is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the in-state rivalry game will be the MVC's Game of the Week on The Valley on ESPN3.
 
Drake (18-7, 13-0 MVC) visits UNI (13-11, 9-4 MVC) in its only game this week. The Bulldogs beat the Panthers, 81-64, in the first meeting between the teams on Jan. 19 at the Knapp Center. Friday's game will be the 85^th all-time meeting between the longtime rivals who first played each in 1975 and have played at least twice every season since the 1984-85 campaign.
Drake leads the all-time series, 60-24, and holds a slight edge in the past 10 meetings, 6-4.
 
The Bulldogs are coming off a 2-0 road trip to Indiana with blowout wins over Evansville and Indiana State. Drake shot 69.1 percent against Evansville, made a school and MVC record 20 three-pointers against the Purple Aces and followed that with a 56.9 shooting clip versus Indiana State. The shooting performance in Evansville is the second highest single game mark in program history. Both performances helped Drake rise to No. 6 in the nation in team field goal percentage at 48.8.  
 
Beginning with its Jan. 28 win at Bradley, Drake has had at least five or more score 10 or more points in every win. In eight games this season, Drake has had at least five record double digit points, including having six finish with 10 or more points in the win at Evansville.
 
UNI has five wins in its past six contest since the loss in Des Moines. Kennedy Kirkpatrick is the Panthers' top scorer at 10.7 points per game. Sophomore Megan Maahs leads the league in double-doubles this season with nine and is almost averaging a double-double with 9.3 points and a league-best 10.0 rebounds per game.
 
Following Friday's road game, Drake returns to the Knapp Center to host Bradley Feb. 23 in the annual Pink Game presented by Mercy. Tipoff with the Braves is set for 7 p.m.