VERMILLION, S.D. –Drake women's basketball earned their fifth win of the 2022-23 season with an 83-54 blowout win on the road at South Dakota. The Bulldogs improved to 5-2 and continued their streak of scoring 80+ points in each game this year.
 
Megan Meyer, the game's leading scorer with 16 points, scored the first five of the game with a triple and a driving layup. Grace Berg broke Meyer's hot start with a lefty hook shot of her own. South Dakota eventually made two-straight threes to start their scoring efforts.
 
Katie Dinnebier dished out four assists in the first quarter on her way to a game-high six assists. At the end of the first quarter, Drake led USD by a 16-14 margin, their lowest opening-period points allowed of the season.
 
The Bulldogs opened the second quarter on a tear, rattling off an 8-2 run with a shot clock buzzer beater to force a Coyote timeout. With roughly six minutes remaining until halftime, Walker Demers snapped the USD scoring drought with a free throw.
 
Later in the second, Drake built their first double-digit lead of the game, one they would not relinquish the rest of the way, on a pair of Ashley Iiams free throws. Courtney Becker then banked in a bunny as the first half clock expired to take a 44-19 lead.
 
Drake's defensive effort in the second quarter was their best of the season, outscoring South Dakota 28-5 and earning their lowest single-period point total allowed of the year.
 
After halftime, the Drake magic wore off slightly as USD was able to claw back within 30 points. The Coyotes opened the third quarter on a 5-0 run before Berg got Drake back in the scoring column. South Dakota outscored the Bulldogs 23-21 in the third period.
 
In the fourth quarter, Drake eclipsed the 80-point mark for the seventh time in as many games with a Taylor McAulay three-pointer. With roughly one minute to play, freshman Ava Hawthorne scored the first points of her collegiate career.
 
Four Bulldogs netted double-digit points led by Megan Meyer's 16. Maggie followed with 14 points and was just one rebounds away from her 10th career double-double, and second of the year, with nine boards. Grace Berg added a dozen points while Katie Dinnebier chipped in with 11.
 
The Drake defense held South Dakota to just 28.4% shooting from the field. The Bulldogs outscored USD 21-4 in transition and 60-22 in the paint.
 
"Offensively we were sparked by our ability to score in the paint and limit their opportunities by boxing out and rebounding," Suzie Glazewr Burt Head Coach Allison Pohlman said following the game. "I have to give our team a lot of credit. We made thirty layups and got over 50 layups [attempts] for the game. We capitalized with 60 [points] in the paint. It was great to watch people come in and make an impact on either side of the floor."
 
Drake will remain on the road for their next matchup when they visit 18th-ranked Creighton on Saturday, Dec. 10. This weekend's tilt with the Bluejays will be Drake's third contest against a ranked opponent this season.
 
NOTES

• South Dakota head coach Kayla Karius is a former Drake assistant (2021-22).
• The Bulldogs have started the same five players in every game.
• Drake held USD to just 16 points in the first quarter, their lowest opening-period total allowed this season.
• The Bulldog defense dominated the second quarter, limiting the Coyotes to just five points, their lowest single-period point total allowed this season.
• 10 Drake players scored in the Bulldogs' winning effort including four in double figures.
• Megan Meyer led the Bulldogs with 16 points.
• Freshman Ava Hawthorne scored her first career points with a fourth quarter layup.
• Drake scored 83 points, eclipsing the 80-point mark for the seventh time in as many games.
• Maggie Bair was one rebound shy of her second double-double of the year with a team-high nine rebounds.
• Katie Dinnebier led the Bulldogs with six assists.