DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University women's basketball team used a 17-2 run to close the first half and take control against the Valparaiso Crusaders as the Bulldogs cruised to an 87-66 win on Friday night at the Knapp Center.
 
Sara Rhine tallied 13 points to bring her career total to 2,001. She becomes the fifth Drake women's player and the ninth player in Missouri Valley Conference history to reach the 2,000-point mark.
 
Drake (14-6, 6-2 MVC) unveiled its new Des Moines-themed uniforms to kickoff Des Moines' Hometown Team Weekend. The Bulldogs celebrated the occasion by clinching their 15^th-straight home victory, which is tied for the fifth-best home court streak in the nation.
 
Valparaiso (11-8, 3-5 MVC) jumped out to a quick lead thanks to hot shooting from the arc. The Crusaders led 21-14 midway through the first frame as they connected on 5-of-6 3-point attempts.
 
While Valparaiso controlled the perimeter, Drake held down the fort on the inside. The Bulldogs gained a 16-8 advantage in points in the paint and a 9-4 lead in rebounds in the first quarter.
 
Drake, however, was plagued by turnovers as it coughed up the ball seven times compared to Valparaiso's two turnovers, and the Crusaders held a 25-22 advantage after the first 10 minutes. Valpo's Addison Stoller rang up 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting in the period.
 
Valparaiso's shooting would soon dry up, and Drake took full advantage. After beginning the game making five of its first six 3-point attempts, Valpo connected on one of its next 10 tries from distance. The long shots led to long rebounds that sprung the Bulldogs into transition, and Drake earned a 9-0 advantage in fastbreak points in the first half.
 
Drake received a boost from Sarah Beth Gueldner during its game-changing 17-2 run. The freshman delivered a 3-pointer to start the run, and later added another trey. She finished with a career-high 16 points.

 
Becca Hittner, who also notched a game-high 16 points, made a layup and a pair of and-ones during the stretch, and Rhine tallied a conventional three-point play of her own.
 
The Bulldogs' run lifted them from down eight points midway through the second quarter to up seven, 41-34, at halftime.
 
They weren't done. The Bulldogs limited the Crusaders to 1-of-15 shooting in the third quarter, outscoring Valpo 22-7 in the frame and extending their lead to 63-41.
 
Drake notched a staggering 31 assists on 33 baskets. Brenni Rose led the passing attack with a career-high 11 assists, and Maddie Monahan tied a season-high with eight assists.
 
Hannah Fuller earned the first starting nod of her career and finished with two points, three rebounds and two assists.
 
Drake continues its season-long four-game homestand when it welcomes Loyola to the Knapp Center on Sunday. Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m.