SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Drake University women's basketball team visits No. 25 Missouri State for a two-game Missouri Valley Conference series on Friday and Saturday. Tipoff Friday at JQH Arena is set for 7 p.m. while Saturday's game will start at 5 p.m. Both games will be streamed on ESPN+.
 
Drake (7-6, 5-1 MVC) is coming off its second-straight series sweep after two big home wins over Indiana State last weekend. The Bulldogs blitzed the Sycamores with a combination of offense and defense. Drake scored 90 or more points in consecutive games for the second time this season while its defense was impressive, holding Indiana State to just 40 points in the opener, including just three points in the second quarter.
 
Missouri State (6-2, 2-0 MVC) returned to action last weekend at UNI after nearly a month off after positive COVID-19 tests among its Tier 1 personnel. The Lady Bears defeated the Panthers twice, including holding off a fourth-quarter charge in the finale for a 64-60 win. Brice Calip is the team's leading scorer at 15.8 points per game while averaging 3.6 assists.
 
Missouri State holds a slight 45-44 lead over Drake in the all-time series that started in 1983. The two longtime rivals have split the last 10 games as the Bulldogs look to snap a three-game losing streak to the Lady Bears. Missouri State made a buzzer-beating three-pointer for a two-point win in Springfield last season and then won the game at the Knapp Center in a game of runs and held off a fourth-quarter Bulldogs' comeback attempt.
 
Following its trip to Springfield, Drake will host UNI at the Knapp Center in an in-state contest on Jan. 27 at 6 p.m.