NORMAL, Ill. – For the second-straight game, the Drake University women's basketball team led from start-to-finish as it won on the road at Illinois State 82-64 Sunday afternoon at Redbird Arena in Missouri Valley Conference action.
 
Drake (10-4, 2-0 MVC) was led by Sara Rhine (Eldon, Mo), who recorded her second consecutive double-double and sixth this season with 22 points and 11 rebounds in just 22 minutes. Becca Hittner (Urbandale, Iowa) had 16 points while Sammie Bachrodt (Wichita, Kan.) added 13 points, six assists, three steals and three rebounds.
 
Illinois State (8-5, 1-1 MVC) had its seven-game winning streak snapped. The Redbirds were led in scoring by Lexi Wallen's team-high 16 points. Tete Maggett and Simone Goods finished with 13 and 11 points, respectively.
 
Coming off a fast start in Friday's victory at Bradley, Drake came out firing again Sunday. The Bulldogs tallied five assists on its first five baskets, all by different Bulldogs, to hold a 14-6 lead at the game's first media timeout. In the first five minutes, Bachrodt nabbed two early steals and moved to No. 6 all-time in career steals at Drake with 221.
 
After enduring a nearly four-minute scoring drought to end the first period, Hittner and Rhine, scored back-to-back baskets and Bachrodt nailed a deep three-pointer to push the lead to 23-11 in the second. The Bulldogs extended their advantage to 32-13 with a 16-2 overall scoring spurt as the Redbirds called timeout after Rhine's three-pointer. Later, Illinois State pulled to within six points, but Rhine scored five straight points to give Drake a 41-30 halftime lead.
 
Bachrodt made back-to-back threes out of halftime as the teams traded baskets. The Bulldogs though used two different big scoring runs and led by a game-high 25 points early in the fourth quarter. Illinois State made up some ground in the fourth quarter as it outscored Drake, 21-16, behind nine field goals.
 
As a team, Drake tallied 23 assists on 26 field goals. Maddy Dean (Jordan, Minn.) equaled Bachrodt with six assists and Nicole Miller (Walker, Iowa) handed out four assists for the second-straight game. The Bulldogs made their first 21 free throw attempts and finished the game an impressive 22-of-25 from the charity line.
 
Following Sunday's game, Drake welcomes Loyola Jan. 11 in the Knapp Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. and the MVC home opener will be broadcast on ESPN+.
 
Drake women's basketball will host the fifth annual "Baby Bowl" on Sunday, January 13 during halftime of its 2 p.m. game against Valparaiso. Register your baby today at https://www.draketix.com/babybowl.