MOLINE, Illinois – The No. 7 seeded Drake University women's basketball team (18-13, 9-9) fell in the quarterfinal of Hoops in the Heartland to No. 2 Missouri State (25-6, 14-4), 63-49.
 
The Bulldogs came out hot to start the first half, at one point leading by 15. Drake was outshooting the Bears in all areas of the floor.
 
Drake opened the second quarter with a 12-2 run, coming on three three-point baskets and a traditional three-point play by Berg to break away from an 18-13 first quarter lead.
 
After enjoying a 30-15 lead, the Lady Bears ventured on a 12-3 run to close out the second quarter including six straight points from Mya Bhinhar.
 
Redshirt-junior Grace berg led Drake with seven points and two assists heading into halftime. She forced a few three-point plays in the first half that allowed Drake to take the lead.
 
Three other Bulldogs combined for 18 of the teams 33 first half points.
 
Entering the second half, Missouri State rallied from a 38-31 deficit in the third quarter, outscoring Drake 14-2, in a 10-minute span to grab a 45-42 lead it never relinquished. 
 
Sydney Wilson recorded a double double for the Bears when she finished with 17 points and 13 rebounds. She entered halftime with only two points.
 
Like Dinnebier, Wilson and Brice Calip each drew seven fouls in their time on the court.
 
The Bulldogs shot a season-low 26.7 percent from the floor including 15.4 percent in the fourth quarter (2-for-13). 
 
Freshman guard Katie Dinnebier drew seven fouls in her 28 minutes on the court. She was the only Bulldog to score in double figured with 11 points, going 7-for-11 from the charity stripe.
 
Junior forward Bair and Berg added nine points each, after each scoring six in the first half.
 
The Bulldogs blocked nine shots, the fourth highest in a MVC Tournament game. Bair recorded a season high four blocks and freshman forward Anna Miller added three to the books.
 
Missouri State advances to the semifinal game of the tournament and will face either Valparaiso or Northern Iowa.