The Basics
Drake women's basketball will continue their early non-conference schedule with a pair of home contests against power conference opponents. The Bulldogs will host in-state rival and No. 4 Iowa on Sunday, Nov. 13 at 2 p.m. in what should be a thrilling affair. Drake will then welcome the Cornhuskers of Nebraska to Des Moines for another matchup with a Big Ten Conference foe on Saturday, Nov. 19.
 
Knapp Center History
Sunday's tilt with the fourth-ranked Hawkeyes will feature the highest-ranked opponent in Knapp Center history and the first home game against a ranked foe since the Bulldogs hosted #14 Iowa State last season. Drake's matchup with Iowa will be the first of four non-conference games this season versus teams ranked in the Preseason AP Top 25 and just the second against an AP top five team in program history (vs. #1 Notre Dame in Vancouver, Canada, 2018).
 
Restarting the Series
The Bulldogs and Hawkeyes will resume their rivalry after a brief one-year hiatus. Last season's matchup in Iowa City was canceled due to multiple cases of COVID-19 within the Iowa program.
 
Hawkeye Connections
Iowa and Drake share a deep connection on the sidelines as current Hawkeye coaches Lisa Bluder and Jan Jensen. Bluder led the Bulldogs from 1990-2000 as the program's head coach. She amassed a 187-106 record with Drake, won four MVC Tournament titles, earned three conference Coach of the Year awards, and led the Bulldogs to five 20+ win seasons.
 
Current Iowa associate head coach Jan Jensen was one of two Academic All-Americans under Bluder at Drake. She also led the nation in scoring with 29.6 ppg during her senior year and is one of three former Drake players to have their jersey number retired. Jensen also coached with Bluder in Des Moines as her first assistant coach and recruiting coordinator.
 
Meyer's Revenge
Drake guard Megan Meyer will take on her former team for the first time as a Bulldog. Meyer transferred to Drake prior to the 2021-22 season after playing in 40 games and averaging just over two points per game as a Hawkeye. The Bulldog senior scored 10 points on 2-of-7 shooting from three-point range in the team's season opener against Green Bay (11/7).
 
Berg Booming for Bulldogs
Redshirt senior Grace Berg aims to be a key cog in the Bulldog machine this season. The Indianola, Iowa native was named to the All-MVC First-Team last year after averaging 11.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg, and 2.7 apg. Berg was also named to the Preseason All-MVC Team. The Drake forward led all players in scoring with 20 points in 30 minutes plus seven rebounds and five assists versus Green Bay (11/7).
 
Sophomore Stars
The Bulldogs attack includes two stellar sophomores, Katie Dinnebier and Anna Miller. The tandem averaged 8.9 ppg and 7.9 ppg, respectively, as true freshman last season. Both second-year players look to take a leap and become an increased issue for opposing teams. Miller made personal history in the Bulldogs' season debut with 14 board to match her career high.
 
 
Elevated expectations
Drake was tabbed third in the 2022-23 MVC Preseason Poll. The Bulldogs were selected to finish behind conference newcomer and multiple-NCAA Tournament game winner Belmont and last year's Hoops in the Heartland champion Illinois State. Drake earned six first place votes.
 
Pohl Position
Suzie Glazer Burt Head Coach Allison Pohlman is embarking on her second season at the helm of the Drake women's hoops program. During her debut season, Pohlman became the second Drake Coach in school history to win her coaching debut when Drake beat Creighton in Nov., joining Carole Baumgarten who accomplished it in 1974, beating Iowa 74-65. Since 2007, Drake has been ranked 15 times within four different polls. Pohlman finished with a record of 20-14 overall in her first year.
 
Scouting Iowa
Iowa enters the weekend with a 2-0 record through their first two games. The Hawkeyes are loaded with preseason expectations including a No. 4 ranking in the AP Poll, a No. 6 ranking in the Coaches' Poll, and one of the most prolific individual players in college hoops. Iowa opened their season with a pair of convincing wins over Southern (87-34) and Evansville (115-62). The Hawkeyes' 115 points in their win over the Purple Aces set a new program record for points in a single game.
 
All-American and All-Big Ten performer Caitlin Clark leads the Iowa offense in nearly every category. The West Des Moines native was unsurprisingly named to both the preseason All-America and All-Big Ten teams as well as preseason Big Ten Player of the Year. Clark is averaging 23 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists through the Hawkeyes' first two contests. Other key contributors include veterans Monika Czinano, a 2021-22 All-America Honorable Mention, and McKenna Warnock, the team's leading rebounder this season. Freshman Hannah Stuelke, a 6-2 Cedar Rapids, Iowa native, has also had a great start to her career with 14 total rebounds.
 
Iowa is led by Lisa Bluder in her 39th season as a college head coach. Prior to joining the Iowa program in 2000, Bluder spent a decade as the Drake head coach. She has posted a career record of 820-384 and logged a record of 484-242 at Iowa.
 
The Hawkeyes currently own a narrow 28-25 advantage in the all-time series with Drake. The Bulldogs have dropped the last four meetings in the rivalry including a 103-97 defeat in the most recent matchup (2020). Drake's last victory over the Hawkeyes came in the 2016-17 season with an 81-76 triumph in Des Moines.
 
Scouting Nebraska
Nebraska will visit Drake for the Bulldogs' second home tilt with a Big Ten team in the same week. The Huskers currently own a 1-0 record after taking down Omaha in a season-opening blowout on Monday, Nov. 7, 100-36. Nebraska will play two more contests prior to their trip to Des Moines including a home contest against Houston Christian on Friday, Nov. 11 and a road game at in-state rival Creighton on Tuesday, Nov. 15.
 
Five Cornhuskers scored double figures in their season debut earlier in the week. Isabelle Bourne led the team with 21 followed by Allison Weidner's 19 and Maddie Krull with 18. Preseason All-Big Ten selection scored 13 for Nebraska and Annika Stewart added 10. Bourne and Weidner tied for the team lead with nine rebounds followed by Markowski's eight.
 
Amy Williams is in her seventh year at the helm of the Nebraska women's basketball program and 16th year of collegiate head coaching. Williams has led the Cornhuskers to a 98-84 record during her tenure.
 
Drake trails Nebraska by a 12-10 margin in their all-time series. Both teams have traded the last five meetings with Nebraska taking the most recent game by an 89-68 score in Lincoln, Neb. Drake's last win came in the 2018 season with an 83-77 road victory.

Up Next
The Bulldogs will travel to Miami, Fla. for a pair of non-conference games at the FIU Thanksgiving Classic. Drake will take on UMass on Friday, Nov. 25 at 1 p.m. and the face either Howard or the hosts from Florida International on Sunday, Nov. 27.

Tickets can be purchased at draketix.com/wbb