DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University women's basketball team defeated Evansville, 66-39, Friday night in the annual Pink Game presented by Mercy One. The win marks five-straight 20-win seasons for the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs were led by redshirt junior forward Sara Rhine (Eldon, Mo.), who finished with a game-high 16 points and pulled down eight rebounds.
 
Drake (20-5, 12-1 MVC) overcame early shooting woes to shut down the Evansville attack after halftime. Senior guard Sammie Bachrodt (Wichita, Kan.) tallied a season-high five steals to lead the defensive effort, along with 11 points. Junior guard Becca Hittner (Urbandale, Iowa) totaled five assists to go along with seven points, six rebounds, and four steals. Junior forward Brenni Rose (Shawnee, Kan.) added 13 points, which is her most through 13 conference games.
 
The Aces were led by Marley Miller who had team-highs in rebounds and assists, with seven and three, respectively. Miller also added eight points which were second to Brooke Bishop's 10 on 5-of-10 shooting.
 
The Bulldogs got off to a shaky start, but Rhine kept the game close by scoring the team's first seven points. On her second basket of the game, Rhine surpassed 1,500 career points. Both teams struggled shooting the ball early, especially from beyond the arc. Drake made just 1-of-its first 12 three-point attempts, and the Aces went 3-of-13 in the first two quarters.
 
At the halftime break, Drake led, 28-26, after the two teams traded threes in the final seconds of the period. Rhine totaled 10 points and five rebounds, both of which were game-highs at the break. Evansville outpaced the Bulldogs in points off of turnovers, 11-3, on 11 Drake turnovers.
 
The Bulldogs came out of the halftime break with defensive intensity, holding the Aces scoreless for the first six minutes of the third quarter. In the third, Evansville scored just three points on eight shots. The three points are the fewest Drake has allowed in a quarter since the NCAA made the switch to quarters in 2015-16. The 39 points are the fewest scored by an opponent this season.
 
Evansville continued to struggle from the field, making just three shots in the fourth quarter. The Aces' 13 points are tied for the third-fewest points in one half allowed in the team's history. Neither team scored in the last three minutes of regulation and Drake held onto a comfortable lead to close out the game.
 
The Bulldogs will be back in action Sunday at 2 p.m. to take on Indiana State in a rematch of the team's nail-biting 70-68 victory over the Sycamores Jan. 25. It will be the program's annual Alumni Game.