PEORIA, Ill. – Drake women's basketball righted the ship on New Year's Day with a blowout win on the road against Bradley, 87-58. The Bulldogs overcame a sluggish first period to hammer the Braves in the second half and earn their first win of 2023 and the MVC season.
 
Maggie Bair started her excellent day with the game's first basket for the second straight contest. The Bulldogs struggled to get shots to fall in the first quarter, shooting just 31.6% in the stanza. Sarah Beth Gueldner eventually snapped a three-plus minute scoring lull with a corner three.
 
To start the second quarter, Bradley to their first lead of the game at 16-15. The Bulldogs were able to bounce back with an 11-0 run midway through the second capped by a Taedyn Gray basket. Caroline Waite ended the Bradley slump with a deep three, her only triple of the game. Freshman Ava Hawthorne then answere with her first-career three-pointer.
 
Heading into the half, Bradley managed an 11-5 run to get within five points of the Bulldogs.
 
After the break, Gueldner, Berg, and Dinnebier went back-to-back-to-back from distance to quickly extend their lead. Anna Miller joined the three-point barrage later in the frame with a corner make.
 
The Bulldogs' lead continued to grow, outscoring the Braves 22-8 in the third quarter. Bradley failed to challenge in the final period as Drake secured the 87-58 victory.
 
Maggie Bair and Grace Berg each posted 18 points and seven rebounds to lead all players.
 
Katie Dinnebier netted 13 points on 3-of-5 shooting from three-point land. Dinnebier led the Bulldogs with six assists and matched Courtney Becker with a team-high eight rebounds.
 
Anna Miller rounded out the Bulldogs' double-digit scorers with 11 points while adding six rebounds.
 
"Our team did a great job adjusting…we did a really nice job knocking down open shots," Suzie Glazer Burt Head Coach Allison Pohlman said. "We were able to get some fastbreaks and runouts, get them on their heels a little bit. We got great contributions from other people stepping in and making plays."
 
Drake will return home for their next matchup, a Friday night tilt against MVC-newcomer Belmont on Jan. 6.
 
NOTES

• Maggie Bair and Grace Berg each scored a team-high 18 points.
• Katie Dinnebier and Courtney Becker led the Bulldogs on the glass with eight boards.
• Dinnebier also dished out a game-high six assists.
• Freshman Ava Hawthorne made her first-career three-point basket.
• The Bulldogs scored 80+ points for the eighth time this season.
• Grace Berg went 7-of-11 from the free throw line, matching her career-best in makes and setting a new career high in attempts.
• Berg is also closing in on 1,000 career points with 955.
• Ames, Iowa native Caroline Waite posted 11 points, five rebounds, three assists, and two steals for the Braves.
• Drake now leads the all-time series with Bradley, 66-18.