TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The Drake women's basketball team picked up a road win in MVC play this afternoon with an 86-65 win at Indiana State. The Bulldogs' win improved their record to 9-5 overall and 4-2 in Valley play.
The Bulldogs scored early and often in Terre Haute as
Maggie Bair banked in a layup just five seconds into the game. Bair followed with another bunny before
Anna Miller joined the party. Miller then bookended an Indiana State timeout with a pair of transition scores.
Later in the first quarter,
Taylor McAulay buried a triple to end the Bulldog bigs' early domination.
Ava Hawthorne and
Sarah Beth Gueldner then hit back-to-back threes as Drake built a 22-point lead after the first quarter.
The Bulldogs' 32-10 first period was their third 30+ point effort in a single quarter and highest-scoring period this season.
The Drake offensive onslaught slowed down to start the second quarter as Indiana State opened the period on a 12-9 run. Despite the slower start in the second, the Bulldogs outscored Indiana State 20-19 in the frame and held a 52-29 lead.
The Sycamores amped up their defensive pressure throughout the second half but failed to challenge Drake down the stretch. The Bulldogs were able to empty their bench and secure the 86-65 victory.
"The first quarter gave us a lot of confidence and some padding to be able to run some motion and pick them apart." Suzie Glazer Burt Head Coach
Allison Pohlman said. "They shifted what they did defensively and it kind of got to us in the third quarter. So many fun performances, a lot of minutes to be had, and we got some great contributions from pretty much everybody on our team."
The Bulldogs will return to the Knapp Center for their next two contests. Drake will host UIC on Thursday, Jan. 19 and Valparaiso on Saturday, Jan. 21 in a pair of MVC matchups.
TEAM NOTES
- Drake's 32-point first quarter was their third 30+ point period and highest-scoring period of the season.
- Drake is 3-2 on the road this season.
- Four Drake players scored in double.
- Drake out rebounded Indiana State, 46-35.
- Drake is 2-1 in Wednesday games this season.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Anna Miller and Maggie Bair combined for the Bulldogs first 14 points of the game.
- Bair led the Bulldogs with 17 points while Miller finished with 15.
- Bair also had a career-best six assists and blocked at least one shot for her seventh-straight game.
- Other double-digit scorers include Grace Berg with 13 and Courtney Becker with 11.
- Berg led Drake with seven rebounds.
- Taylor McAulay logged a career-high four steals.
THE SERIES
- Drake leads the series, 63-24.
- Drake has now won six-straight games over Indiana State in Terre Haute.
