DES MOINES, Iowa –It was a bit sloppy at times, but the Drake women's basketball team got what it wanted from its exhibition opener. Everyone played, almost everyone scored, and the Bulldogs walked off with a victory, beating Omaha 96-79 at the Knapp Center on Sunday afternoon.
 
Five players scored in double figures and the Bulldogs knocked down 14 3-pointers as they began tuning up for a season again filled with high expectations.
 
Senior Ashley Iiams led the Bulldogs with 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting, including a 4-of-7 effort on 3-pointers. Senior leaders Katie Dinnebier and Courtney Becker each scored 12 points, as did freshman Maggie Taylor. Taylor, a 6-foot-2 post from Rapid City, S.D., was perfect from the field, making all four of her shots, including a pair of 3-pointers.
 
Junior Ava Hawthorne, who has been a top reserve but is expected to play a bigger role this season, added 11 points and went 3-for-6 from deep. In all, seven players made at least one trey, an indication the Bulldogs might have a variety of threats from the perimeter.
 
Becker led the Bulldogs with eight rebounds and freshman Grace Knutson, who earned spot in the starting lineup, led the team with seven assists to go with five points. She also had two of the team's 13 steals and two rebounds.
 
Another newcomer, Illinois State transfer Abbie Aalsma, contributed five points, two rebounds, two assists and a steal. Junior Taedyn Gray, sidelined all last season with a foot injury, marked her return to the court with five points, four rebounds and a block. Sophomore Brooklin Dailey added nine points and was active during her 10 minutes on the floor.
 
Drake outrebounded the Mavericks 38-29, had assists on 21 of its 29 baskets, and finished 14-for-28 from beyond the arc in a game frequently interrupted by whistles. The two teams combined for 56 free throws, with Omaha called for 26 fouls and Drake 24.
 
Omaha, out of the Summit League, was competitive throughout and got 26 points from Grace Cave, who led the team in scoring last season. The Mavericks are a young team with nine freshmen and sophomores and are breaking in 10 newcomers.
 
The two programs joined in an effort to raise relief money for those who suffered tornado and other storm damage over the summer. All proceeds from the game will be donated to the Greater Greenfield Community Fund and the Iowa-Nebraska Region of the American Red Cross.
 
The Bulldogs, picked to repeat its Missouri Valley Conference championship, endured a rough opening quarter, starting the game with a missed layup, offensive foul, turnover and another offensive foul. They settled down after Hawthorne drilled a three and never trailed after Hawthorne and Aalsma hit back-to-back treys for an 11-7 lead.
 
Omaha closed the second quarter with a 14-5 run to trail just 47-41 at halftime before Drake broke it open. Iiams scored eight straight for the Bulldogs for a 64-45 lead and the Bulldogs went on to lead by as many as 23.
 
Drake concludes exhibition play against Grand View at the Knapp Center at 6 p.m. Thursday, then opens the season at North Dakota State on Monday, Nov. 4. That game tips at 11 a.m. in Fargo.