NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Drake women's basketball team met up with Belmont for just the second time in the history of both storied programs in an afternoon tilt in Nashville. The Bulldogs (17-9, 12-6) nearly overcame a deficit as large as 17 points but fell just short in a thrilling defeat.

Katie Dinnebier matched her career high in scoring with 24 points, equaling her total from the Bulldogs' early season loss to then no. 4 Iowa. Dinnebier also logged five rebounds, four assists, and four steals.

Maggie Bair added another 15 points to follow up her career night at Murray State in the Bulldogs' last time out. Sarah Beth Gueldner and Grace Berg each scored 11 points to round out the Bulldogs' offensive leaders.
 
Bair continued her excellent shooting streak away from home with the game's first bucket, a top-of-the-key three just under a minute into the game. Despite several ensuing opportunities, Drake could not find an early rhythm, going 1-for-6 from the field over the first four minutes.
 
Belmont (19-10, 15-3) was able to jump out in front behind star forward Madison Bartley's six early points and a layup from reserve wing Kilyn McGuff. McGuff's score forced Suzie Glazer Burt Head Coach Allison Pohlman to burn a timeout in attempts of halting the Bruins' early run.
 
Bair and Sarah Beth Gueldner did their best to keep the Bruins within reach as the first quarter wound down. Bair connected on another triple before Gueldner went back-to-back at the rim for five-straight points. Belmont was able to build a 25-14 lead by the end of the period as Kendal Cheesman buried her second three-pointer of the game.
 
Drake was able to shake some of their offensive woes midway through the second quarter. As of Belmont's star bigs got into foul trouble, the Bulldogs rattled off a 7-0 run over 1:21 to cut the Bruins' lead to just eight and force a Belmont timeout.
 
Belmont rebounded to finish the first half with four makes in five attempts including another Bartley bucket after a dime dished by MVC Preseason Player of the Year Destinee Wells. The Bruins led 49-35 at the half, their 49 points matched the most given up by the Bulldogs in a single half this season.
 
Drake shot just 38.7% from the field in the first half but was buoyed by six made threes in first 20 minutes of action.
 
Drake opened the second half with back-to-back scores to cut the Belmont lead back to 10, but Belmont maintained control until the halfway point in the period. Anna Miller corralled an offensive rebound after a missed Taylor McAulay three. Miller then fed Courtney Becker on the wing for a deep three to get within eight points.
 
Katie Dinnebier then went coast-to-coast for a layup to cut the lead further, to 58-52 in favor of the Bruins, and force a Belmont timeout.
 
Belmont eventually opened their lead back up to double-digits as seven third quarter points from Destinee Wells led to a 66-54 Bruin advantage with 10 minutes to play.
 
With 3:38 remaining on the clock, Katie Dinnebier completed a traditional three-point play then glassed another in to get back within six points of the Bruins. Grace Berg continued the Bulldogs' fourth-quarter rally, sinking a pair of free throws to to get within four.
 
Dinnebier continued to carry the load for Drake during their comeback effort, finishing off another old fashion three-point trip with 1:10 remaining to make it 74-73 in favor of Belmont.
 
The Bulldogs' ferocious comeback effort came up just short as the Bruins secured the 83-77 victory with clutch free throws in the final minute.
 
"[We just] came up a little short," Suzie Glazer Burt Head Coach Allison Pohlman said after the game. "We won two quarters and did a nice job of coming out and setting the tone in the second half. Katie Dinnebier had a heck of a game, [I] wish we got her a little more help. We just have to be ready to play…[we were] a little rattled to start and they clearly adjusted and we didn't adjust fast enough."
 
"I'm really proud of our fight," Pohlman continued. "We could've rolled over but we didn't. It didn't go our way, but we're excited for the next chapter."

The Bulldogs will return to the friendly confines of the Knapp Center to conclude the 2022-23 regular season schedule next weekend. Drake will host Missouri State on Thursday, Mar. 2 before welcoming Southern Illinois on Saturday, Mar. 4 for Senior Day and the season finale.
 
TEAM NOTES

• Drake, snapping its three-game winning streak,fell to 17-9 overall and 12-6 in the Missouri Valley Conference.
• The Bruins' 49 first half points matched the highest total allowed by Drake in a single half this season.
• The Bulldogs shot their fourth-worst percentage of the season, going .373 from the field.
• Drake went 9-of-27 from three-point range, tying their second-most three-point attempts this year.
• The Bulldogs went a perfect 18-of-18 from the free throw line, their first flawless free throw performance since an 8-for-8 at Loyola Chicago last season (1/7/22).
• Drake's perfect free throw night was also their most made free throws without a miss in at least their last 18 seasons.
• The Bulldogs outrebounded Belmont 44-31.
• The Bulldogs are now 7-7 away from the Knapp Center and 6-6 in true road games this season.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

• Katie Dinnebier led the Bulldogs with 24 points, tying a career high, with 22 coming in the second half.
• Dinnebier also logged five rebounds, four assists, and four steals.
• Dinnebier's four steals were one off of her career best.
• Maggie Bair followed her career night in Murray with another 15-point, 7-rebound effort. Bair's seven boards led Drake on the glass.
• Both Grace Berg and Sarah Beth Gueldner added 11 points.
• Berg also grabbed six rebounds.
• Sophomore forward Anna Miller tied Bair with a team-high seven rebounds.

THE SERIES

• Belmont's win evened the series between the Bruins and Bulldogs at 1-1.
• Both teams' wins have come in their respective home arenas.