The Basics
The Drake women's basketball team's tough non-conference schedule rolls on. The Bulldogs will head to Minnesota on Saturday, Dec. 2 and then host North Dakota State after nearly a week off on Friday, Dec. 8.
Bulldogs by the Numbers
Drake is 5-2 through the first month of the season with marquee wins over Saint Louis (11/9) and Iowa State (11/12). The Bulldogs most recently hosted the Vibrant Thanksgiving Classic, going 2-1 on the weekend with wins over Louisiana Tech (11/24) and Maine (11/26).
Katie Dinnebier leads a group of three Bulldogs averaging double figures with 18.3 points per game. She is just ahead of
Grace Berg (17.0 ppg) and Taylor McCaulay (11.7 ppg). Dinnebier currently leads the MVC in scoring is also averaging just under five assists through the first seven games.
In the paint,
Anna Miller has been a force, already picking up a Missouri Valley Conference-leading 16 blocks and a team-high 7.9 rebounds per game. Dinnebier has also added 18 steals to the defensive effort, the second-most in the MVC through the first month of play.
Scouting Minnesota
The Golden Gophers enter the week with a 5-1 record, with all six games being played at home. Minnesota took care of Norfolk State (11/29) in their last contest.
Minnesota is led offensively by sophomore guard Maura Braun, who is the only Golden Gopher averaging double-digit points with 18. Sophie Hart has added 9.8 points per game to the effort. Mallory Heyer leads the way on the boards, averaging 7.7 rebounds per game.
The Bulldogs and Golden Gophers have met 16 times in history, with Drake holding a 10-6 advantage in the series. The two last met in 2021, when Drake defended the Knapp Center with a 77-63 win.
Scouting North Dakota State
Drake will host the Bison in the annual Kids' Game at the Knapp Center. The Bison currently sit at 2-4 on the year, and they will host Eastern Michigan and NAIA Mayville State before coming to Des Moines.
Elle Evans leads a group of three North Dakota State players averaging double-digits in points with 11.7. Just behind her in the category are Heaven Hamling (11.3 ppg) and
Abbie Draper (10.8 ppg). Hamling and Evans have each contributed 2.7 assists per game as well.
Drake and NDSU have met three times in history, a series in which Drake holds an unblemished 3-0 record. The schools last met in 2012, when the Bulldogs earned a 62-50 victory in Fargo.
Up Next
Drake will round out the non-conference slate as they host former conference rival Creighton on Sunday, Dec. 17 and travel to North Dakota on Thursday, Dec. 21.
