MOLINE, ILL. — Junior forward Maggie Bair scored 17 points to pace a balanced scoring attack as Drake trimmed No. 10 seed Bradley, 71-56,  in the opening round of the Missouri Valley Conference women's basketball tournament at TaxSlayer Center Thursday night. 

No. 7 seeded Drake, winning its sixth straight game, will face No. 2 seeded Missouri State in a quarterfinal round game at 6 p.m. Friday with the contest televised on ESPN Plus.

It marked the first time Drake had swept three games in the same season against Bradley since the 2001-02 campaign.

The Bulldogs, appearing in the play-in round of the MVC Tournament for the first time since 2013, used an 8-0 run - aided by back-to-back three point baskets from Anna Miller and Maddie Petersen - to enjoy a 14-5 lead and was never threatened.

Drake made five of its last seven shots to end the first quarter. Then the Bulldogs made their first three shots to open the second quarter extending the lead to 25-13.

Bradley missed its first nine shots to open the fourth quarter and the Bulldogs took advantage, reeling off 13 straight points to grab its biggest lead of the game at 65-42 following two free throws by  Bair with 4:54 left.

Miller came off the bench to score 10 points, while Grace Berg, Katie Dinnebier and Megan Meyer each tallied nine points.

Dinnebier had three steals, marking the eighth time this season in which she collected three or more steals in a game.

Drake shot 48.2 percent from the floor (27-56), including 50 percent (14-28) in the second half. 

The Bulldogs also dominated the boards,out rebounding Bradley, 43-29, with reserve Allie Wooldridge pulling down a team-high six rebounds.