NORMAL, Ill. – The Drake University women's basketball team earned a hard-fought 69-67 Missouri Valley Conference overtime road win over Illinois State Friday night at Redbird Arena.
 
Drake (13-5, 5-1 MVC) had four players, led by Becca Hittner with a team-high 16 points, finish in double figures. Sara Rhine added 14 while Brenni Rose and Maddie Monahan had 11 and 10 points, respectively.
 
Tete Maggett of Illinois State (11-6, 3-3 MVC) scored a game-high 19 points. Newcomers Juliunn Redmond and Mary Crompton scored 14 and 12 points.
 
"Tough win tonight against a really good Illinois State team," said Drake head coach Jennie Baranczyk. "We didn't shoot the basketball well tonight but we battled. Really proud of the entire team tonight."  
The Bulldogs overcame cold shooting in the first two quarters to erase a halftime deficit and take a nine-point lead on Hittner's layup with 34 seconds left in the third. However, the Redbirds who were 8-0 on their home court, came back to tie the game.
 
Each team had an opportunity for the potential game winner in the final 40 seconds of regulation. Monahan though drew a charge on Maggett with 12 seconds to go but Hittner's shot attempt at the buzzer hit the back of the rim as Drake went to overtime for the second time this season.
 
In the extra time, Redmond gave Illinois State the first lead, but Kierra Collier, who just missed double digits with nine points, knocked down her third three of the game. The Bulldogs never relinquished the lead again overcoming six points from Redmond in the overtime. Monahan scored back-to-back layups, Rose made one of two free throws and Redmond's heave at the buzzer was off the mark.
 
Out of halftime, the Bulldogs shot the basketball well as Hittner scored 10 points and Rhine added five points in the first 5:33 of the period. Maggett made a late three but Drake led 48-42 after three quarters. Hittner finished with 12 in the quarter.
 
Shooting troubles in first two quarters plagued the Bulldogs who went 7-of-29 from the field, including just 2-of-16 from three.
 
Drake closes the road trip at first-place Bradley Sunday afternoon. Tip-off at Renaissance Coliseum is set for 2 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN3.