DES MOINES, Iowa – Playing in front of a program-record and sellout crowd of 7,081 fans, the Drake University women's basketball team defeated Waldorf, 103-18, Thursday in the program's seventh annual "Pack the Knapp Game" hosted by The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center at Drake University.
Close to 6,500 elementary and middle school students and their chaperones and teachers from across the entire state of Iowa along with season ticket holders packed the Knapp Center stands. It was a fun-filled school trip of Bulldogs' basketball, character development and educational activities for the students.
On the basketball court, Drake (7-2) limited Waldorf to 18 points, including just three after halftime. The 18 points are the fewest scored by an opponent in school history. The Bulldogs held the Warriors scoreless in the third quarter, which is the first time-ever for a Drake foe since women's basketball went to quarters for the 2015-16 season. The game counted as an exhibition for Waldorf, a NAIA school located in Forrest City, Iowa.
Becca Hittner,
Sarah Beth Gueldner and
Maggie Negaard led the Bulldogs with 15 points each. Hittner tied her career-high in blocks with three, Gueldner's career-high came by making a career-best five three-pointers and Negaard dished out a career-best eight assists and she tied her career-high in points.
Sara Rhine was the other Bulldog in double figures with 14 points and she added six rebounds.
Drake finished 41-of-73 (56.2 percent) from the floor, made 10 three-pointers and went 11-of-11 from the free throw line. Also impressive was the team's 33 assists, which is tied for the third-most in a NCAA Division I game this season, as
Allie Wooldridge and
Taylor McAulay set or tied their career mark with six and three assists, respectively. McAulay had a career-high seven points while Wooldridge pulled down a career-high nine rebounds.
Waldorf briefly led 3-2 after Lair Van-Meter banked in a three-pointer from the wing. It would be its last lead as the Bulldogs ripped off a 16-0 run into the first media timeout. Drake led 52-15 at halftime and then scored 51 points in the final two quarters.
Maddie Monahan and Rhine at 16 minutes each played the most minutes of the Bulldogs' starting five as many of the reserves set or equaled their most minutes this season. All 12 Bulldogs scored two or more points. As a team, Drake nabbed 25 steals led by
Hannah Fuller's five and
Maggie Bair and
Brenni Rose, who each tied or set career-highs with four steals.
Drake will take a break for final exams and return to the court Dec. 17 at Oklahoma. Tipoff in Norman, Okla. is set for 7 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on FOX Sports Midwest and the FOX Sports Go app.
