CARBONDALE, Ill. – Becca Hittner with a game-high 20 points was one of four players in double-figures for the Drake University women's basketball team in a 73-65 Missouri Valley Conference road win over Southern Illinois Sunday afternoon.
 
Kierra Collier added 11 points while Maddie Monahan and Sara Rhine each scored 10 points for Drake (10-5, 2-1 MVC). Rhine pulled down 10 rebounds for her second double-double this season. Brenni Rose filled the stat sheet with seven points, seven assists, four rebounds and three steals.
 
It was a one-point lead for the Bulldogs going into the final quarter in a game that featured 12 ties and seven lead changes. Hittner though buried a quick three-pointer and Monica Burich, who continued her strong play off the bench with eight points, scored off a nice assist by Hittner as SIU (9-6, 1-3 MVC) called timeout.
 
Drake kept the momentum going as Rose later put the Bulldogs up by 12 points on a tough finish in the lane. The Salukis kept battling but Drake kept it a multiple possession game and secured its first league road win of the season.
 
Nicole Martin led SIU with 19 points while Makenzie Silvey and Brittney Patrick had 13 and 10 points, respectively.
 
As a team, Drake shot a blistering season-best 60.0 percent (27-of-45) from the floor and led by Rose's game-high seven finished with 18 assists. Hittner made 8-of-8 from the free throw line and the team went 14-of-17. After making just one three-pointer in Friday's loss at No. 20/18 Missouri State, Drake made five Sunday afternoon as Hittner and Monahan each knocked down two and Maggie Negaard, who had seven points, made the other.
 
Following Sunday's road contest, Drake returns to the Knapp Center Jan. 17 when Indiana State visits for a  6 p.m. game.