VERMILLION, S.D. – The Drake University women's basketball team will play its third-straight 2019 NCAA Tournament team Wednesday night when it visits South Dakota. Tipoff in Vermillion is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the game will be streamed on ESPN+.
Drake (2-0) and South Dakota (2-0) resumed their rivalry last season as the Bulldogs claimed a 76-64 win at the Knapp Center. The Bulldogs and Coyotes were picked No. 1 and 2, respectively, in this season's first espnW Mid-Major poll.
Drake has a pair of home wins over South Dakota State and Iowa State while South Dakota collected two hard-fought road victories at Northeastern and Green Bay. Each team had players be named their respective conference's player of the week for their great performances. Redshirt senior forward
Sara Rhine (Eldon, Mo.) collected her 11
th career MVC Player of the Week award while senior guard Ciara Duffy earned her fourth career Summit League Player of the Week honor. averaged 24.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.0 block and 1.0 steal while shooting a blistering 71.3 percent from the field, 75.0 percent from deep and 81.3 percent from the free throw line. Duffy averaged 22.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists in the first two games. Duffy is the Summit League's Preseason Player of the Year while Rhine's teammate
Becca Hittner (Urbandale, Iowa) is the preseason MVC Player of the Year.
Following, Wednesday's away game, Drake returns to the Knapp Center Saturday against former MVC rival Creighton (1-0). Tipoff with the longtime foes is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Creighton opened its 2019-20 campaign with a 67-54 win over Omaha. Last season, the Bulldogs won 85-69 in Omaha in the 68
th all-time meeting and improved to 40-27 in the series that has continued with one game every season since Creighton departed the MVC for the BIG EAST in 2013. The Bluejays host South Dakota State Tuesday night before they make the short trip to Des Moines.
After playing four games in nine days, Drake will enjoy a break before its next contest when Western Illinois visits the Knapp Center Nov. 24.
