NORMAL, Ill. – The Drake University women's basketball team starts its final road trip of the regular season Friday and Saturday at Illinois State in a two-game Missouri Valley Conference series. Both games will start at 4 p.m. and be streamed on ESPN+.
Last weekend, Drake (12-8, 10-2 MVC) reached double-digit MVC wins with its sweep of Southern Illinois at the Knapp Center. The Bulldogs have tallied 10 or more league wins seven-straight seasons under head coach Jennie Baranczyk, who recently became the school's all-time leader in conference victories, and first season was 2012-13. Prior to Baranczyk's 2014-15 team, the last Drake team to win 10 or more MVC wins in the regular season was the 2008-09 team.
After the Bulldogs rallied for a 74-70 win in the first game of the SIU series, the second game was all Bulldogs as they led from start to finish in an 83-54 victory. It is the 12
th-straight win for Drake in the longtime series that started in 1979.
Sarah Beth Gueldner poured in a career-high 21 points in the second victory as her blistering shooting continues. Gueldner, who ranks second in the Valley in three-point percentage with a career-best 42.4 clip, has made one three-pointer in 14 consecutive games and connected on two or more three-pointers in eight-straight contests.
Grace Berg, who scored the go-ahead layup and knocked down two clinching free throws late in the first win, had 14 points.
Allie Wooldridge and
Taylor McAulay were the other Bulldogs in double figures in the finale as they each matched their career-bests with 13 and 11 points, respectively.
Illinois State (10-6, 7-6 MVC) is coming off a heartbreaking home loss to No. 23/25 Missouri State, 73-72, Saturday at Redbird Arena. The Lady Bears overcame a 16-point deficit as Bryce Calip scored the go-ahead layup with 1.4 seconds left. Senior Juliunn Redmond leads Illinois State in scoring and rebounding at 14.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.
Following this weekend's trip to Illinois State, Drake finishes its regular season road slate at UNI Feb. 24 at 6 p.m. The Bulldogs close the regular season March 5-6 against Valparaiso at the Knapp Center.
