The Drake University women's basketball team is set to host SIU on Thursday Jan. 13 and Missouri State on Saturday Jan. 15 at the Knapp Center.
 
The Bulldogs return to Des Moines after falling to Loyola and Valparaiso over the weekend. Drake played without three of their five starters in the two games. 

Drake maintained a first half lead against the Ramblers but were unable to top their 30 points in the third quarter.
 
Junior guard Megan Meyer led Drake with 12 points and grabbed eight rebounds.
 
Graduate guard Maddie Petersen totaled eight points in her 30 minutes on the court.
 
Freshman Anna Miller led the team in rebounding when she grabbed a total of 10, making it the third time this season she recorded 10 or more.
 
Against Valpo, the Bulldogs struggled to gain a lead over the Beacons. After tying the game a number of the times, the Beacons came out on top.
 
Senior forward Caitlin Morrison shot 7-9 from beyond the arc to give Valpo 21 of their 71 points.
 
Petersen and Miller each tallied 12 points. They each made one three for the Bulldogs.
 
Petersen tallied six assists, leaving her only seven away from the 500 marks on her career.
 
Southern Illinois has not played since Jan. 2 due to their Jan. 7 game at Missouri State being postponed due to COVID concerns in the Bears program.
 
SIU is led by graduate guard Mackenzie Silvey this season, as she averages 15.9 points per game. Fellow graduate and forward Abby Brockmeyer averages 15.8 points per game and 10.3 rebounds.
 
In their last game against Loyola, Silvey, Brockmeyer, and graduate forward Gabby Walker combined for 39 of SIU's 63 points.
 
The Saluki's are shooting only 27.9 percent from the arc this season.
 
Prior to coming to Des Moines, Missouri State will make a stop in Cedar Falls to face UNI on Thursday Jan. 13.
 
The Bears have not played a game since Jan. 2 when they faced Valpo. Their Jan. 7 contest against SIU was postponed due to COVID concerns in the Bears program.
 
Missouri State has played their last two games without starting forward Jasmine Franklin. She tore her ACL against Toledo on Dec. 21 and will miss the remainder of the season.
 
Senior guard Sydney Wilson leads the Bears in scoring and rebounding. She averages 11.4 points per game and 5.6 rebounds.  
 
Against Valpo, senior guard Brice Calip led the Bears with 18 points.
 
Wilson and senior forward Abigayle Jackson each recorded a double-double in the meeting. Wilson tallied 13 points, 13 rebounds and Jackson recorded 10 points, 11 rebounds.
 
Missouri State leads the all-time series with Drake 44-47 and have won the last five meetings.
 
Drake will remain in Iowa after hosting SIU and Missouri State, as they are set to play UNI on Jan. 21 in the Knapp Center.