NORMAL, ILLINOIS -- Junior Megan Meyer had a career night shooting, as she scored 22 points, but the Bulldogs fell short at Illinois State, 70-58.
 
Meyer went six for eight from the arc and two for three from the floor in her 32 minutes.
 
The Bulldogs took the early lead after several missed shots by the Redbirds. Drake held the Illinois State to zero points for the first three minutes of the game.
 
Fifth year guard JuJu Redmond took five of the Redbirds first seven shots, missing all five. The standout player was shut down by the Bulldogs in the first half, as they held her to just 25 percent shooting (3-12).
 
Redmond received two warnings from the officials in the first half, as well as the Illinois State bench who received one.
 
Drake held their ground throughout the first half and drew two fouls from each of the Redbirds three post players.
 
Junior forward Maggie Bair led the Bulldogs at halftime with 12 points, five rebounds, two steals, and two blocks. She made two shots from beyond the arc in her first 15 minutes on the court.
 
With less than three seconds left in the first half, senior guard Mary Crompton hit a shot just two feet from the half court line, to tie the game 28-28.
 
Crompton's three before half was her first of five on the evening.
 
Illinois State opened up the second half with a three from Crompton and Maya Wong.
 
Drake struggled to make a shot until freshman guard Katie Dinnebier drew a foul with 7:20 on the clock and went to the line.
 
Dinnebier knocked down both shots to minimize the Redbirds lead to four. Illinois State attempted to strengthen their lead, but forward Deanna Wilson missed a jumper.
 
Meyer grabbed the rebound and made a fast break layup to make the game 37-35.
 
The Bulldogs continued to battle the Redbirds for the lead in the third quarter, tying the game two more times.
 
The Bulldogs were held scoreless for the first five minutes of the fourth quarter. With 4:58 on the clock, Bair made a layup to bring the Redbirds lead down to 10 points.
Bair finished with 16 points and nine rebounds, just falling short of a double-double. She also recorded three blocks in her 29 minutes.
 
With 2:41 on the clock, Illinois State head coach Kristen Gillespie was given a technical foul, which allowed Dinnebier to make the two free throws that came with it, minimizing ISU's lead to six points.
 
Drake battled for the next 60 seconds to regain momentum and take back the lead but were unable to get through the Redbird's defense.
 
Dinnebier finished with eight points, five assists, and five rebounds.
 
Illinois State standout Redmond finished with 11 points and 10 assists. This was only her ninth game this season scoring under 15 points.
 
Crompton finished with 21 points, falling one point short of tying her season high.
 
The Bulldogs return to Des Moines to host Valparaiso on Friday Feb. 4 at 6pm.