CHICAGO – The Drake University women's basketball team travels to Chicago for a two-game Missouri Valley Conference series at Loyola this Friday and Saturday at Gentile Arena. Tipoff for each game will be 6 p.m. with Friday's game streamed on ESPN3 and Saturday's streamed on ESPN+.
 
Drake (8-8, 6-3 MVC) is coming off a short break after it defeated UNI last week in its lone game. The Bulldogs led from start to finish over the Panthers behind a balanced scoring attack and hot shooting. Grace Berg, who poured in a game-high 21 points, was one of six Bulldogs that scored eight or more points. Freshman Courtney Becker scored a career-high 13 points behind a career-best three three-pointers while Mya Mertz added eight points.
 
Drake shot 56.3 percent from the floor, scored 96 points, made 11 three-pointers, recorded 24 assists and outrebounded UNI (35-34). The Bulldogs lead the MVC and rank in the top 30 among national leaders in all five statistical categories. Drake ranks second in the NCAA in team assists with 339 just five behind leader, Stephen F. Austin.
 
Loyola (7-4, 5-2 MVC) dropped its first league game but have won five of its past six games since. The Ramblers sit at the top of the league in scoring defense at 57.5 points per game while the Bulldogs are number one in scoring offense at 78.9 points. Junior Allison Day leads Loyola in scoring at 10.8 points and rebounding at 7.1 per game.
 
Following its trip to Chicago, Drake returns to the Knapp Center Feb. 11-12 to host SIU. The two-game series will be the team's annual Pink Games presented by MercyOne Medical Center Des Moines.