DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University women's basketball team overcame a 14-point, third-quarter deficit in 84-73 comeback victory over Southern Illinois in Missouri Valley Conference action Friday night at the Knapp Center.
 
Five players scored in double-figures for Drake (15-7, 10-0 MVC), led by redshirt junior Maddy Dean (Jordan, Minn.), who poured in a season-high 20 points off the bench. Dean pulled down a season-best 10 rebounds for her first double-double of the season and the eighth of her career. She added three assists and two steals.
 
Redshirt sophomore Sara Rhine (Eldon, Mo.) added 18 points off the bench. Rhine was a perfect 8-of-8 from the field. Sophomores Becca Hittner (Urbandale, Iowa) and Brenni Rose (Shawnee, Kan.) each scored 14 points. 10 of Rose's points and 11 of Hittner's points came after halftime. Junior Sammie Bachrodt (Wichita, Kan.) chipped in 10 points.
 
SIU (12-9, 7-3 MVC) was paced by Nicole Martin's career-high 24 points. Four other Salukis scored in double-digits.  
 
In the game, Drake shot a blistering 62.0 percent from the floor, including an impressive 21-of-27 (77.8 percent) in the final two quarters. Overall, the Bulldogs made 9-of-20 (45.0 percent) from behind the three-point line and 13-of-16 (81.3 percent) from the free throw line.
 
The turning point of the thrilling comeback for Drake, which trailed at halftime by a score of 37-30, occurred with the team down, 46-32, at the 7:20 mark of the third quarter after Martin's jumper. It was the first halftime deficit for the team since the non-conference finale versus Iowa on Dec. 21. However, the Bulldogs answered with a 14-4 as they pulled back within one point at 55-54. SIU answered with another bucket before the end of the period as the score was 57-54 going into the final quarter.



Later, Drake took its first lead of the game since it was 3-1 at the 9:05 mark of the opening quarter with Rhine's layup to make the score 65-64 with 6:53 to play. The Bulldogs kept the momentum using a 12-0 run, which included another layup by Rhine and back-to-back three-pointers by Rose. SIU called a timeout to try and slow Drake down, but it didn't work. The Bulldogs followed up every Saluki basket with one of their own and led by 11 with 38 seconds left after a pair of free throws by Dean as Drake held on for the comeback win.
 
Drake's bench was a big factor in the win as it scored 42 points compared to Southern Illinois' two points from its reserves. In nine out of 10 league games this season, the Bulldogs' bench has tallied 30 or more points and just SIU's bench in the first game between the schools on Jan. 7 has outscored Drake's bench this MVC season.

Following Friday's game, Drake hosts Missouri State Sunday. The 2 p.m. contest will be the MVC's featured game on ESPN3.