CHICAGO – Four players finished in double figures for the Drake University women's basketball team in an 83-55 win at Loyola Sunday afternoon at Gentile Arena.
 
Drake (18-5, 10-1 MVC), which played its final road game of the month, was led by Sara Rhine (Eldon, Mo.) who just missed her fifth consecutive double-double with a game-high 23 points on 8-of-8 shooting and eight rebounds and she added four steals in just 24 minutes. Becca Hittner (Urbandale, Iowa) posted impressive overall numbers with 19 points, six rebounds and equaled her career-best with seven assists in 26 minutes. Maddy Dean (Jordan, Minn.) and Nicole Miller (Walker, Iowa) rounded out the group with 11 and 10 points, respectively.  
 
The Bulldogs finished with a season-high 29 assists on 32 field goals, tied their season-best with 13 three-pointers (43.3 percent) and their bench scored 20 points.
 
Back-to-back baskets by Hittner and Rhine at the start of the game started a blistering first period for Drake, which never trailed in the game. In the opening quarter, the Bulldogs made 11-of-15 shots, including an impressive 5-of-6 from behind the three-point line, and tallied 11 assists, led by Hittner's three assists. Drake led 27-13 going into the second quarter as Rhine had 12 points.
 
Drake, which ended the second period on a 15-3 run, to lead 54-29 at halftime behind season-highs for the first two quarters in field goals (21), field goal percentage (65.6), three-pointers (10) and assists (21). In the final two quarters, Drake would lead by as many as 38 points, as the Ramblers never pull within less than 27 points.
 
Following Sunday's game, Drake starts a season long three-game homestand when UNI visits the Knapp Center Feb. 15. Tipoff against the Panthers is scheduled for 6 p.m. and the in-state matchup will be streamed on ESPN3.