DES MOINES, Iowa – After two decisive exhibition victories, the Drake women's basketball team looks ready to open the season. All 13 players who got into the game scored and the Bulldogs hit 17 3-pointers in rolling past Grand View 110-46 at the Knapp Center on Thursday night.
 
Freshman Grace Knutson and sophomore Shannon Fornshell led with 15 points each, Anna Miller scored 13 and Ashley Iiams pitched in with 12 as Suzie Glazer Burt Head Coach Allison Pohlman constantly shuffled players in and out of the game. Everyone played at least 9 1/2 minutes and no one played more than 20.
 
The Bulldogs didn't need any tricks to treat themselves to a victory in this Halloween Night contest, just efficient offense and hustling defense that produced 12 steals and eight blocks. Drake shot 59 percent from the field, knocked down 17-of-37 3-point shots after going 14-for-28 from deep in a win over Omaha on Sunday and logged assists on its first 16 field goals. By the end, the Bulldogs had assists on 33 of their 39 baskets and finished with more 3-pointers than Grand View had total field goals (16).
 
Drake was solid on the boards, too, outrebounding the Vikings 50-29 and outscoring them 44-10 in the paint.
 
The Bulldogs were at their best in a sizzling 40-point third quarter, when they made their first 14 shots of the period and finished the 10-minute session 17-for-19 (89.5 percent), including 6-for-8 from 3-point range.
 
Drake also was sharp at the outset, getting points from eight different players in the opening quarter and knocking down five 3s in building a 30-17 lead. Then the Bulldogs really started clicking, outscoring the Vikings 61-14 during the middle two quarters.
 
Knutson, from Cedar Falls, was recruited because she can shoot it and she demonstrated why, scoring all her points on 5-for-6 3-point shooting. Fornshell went 6-for-7 from the field and hit three 3-pointers, Miller made all but one of her six shots and Iiams was 3-for-4.
 
Katie Dinnebier supplied her usual dose of energy in finishing with nine points, five assists, four rebounds and three steals. Ava Hawthorne led the Bulldogs with five steals and nine assists and scored eight points. Brooklin Dailey chipped in with seven points and five rebounds and Illinois State transfer Abbie Aalsma had six points, five rebounds and two assists as the Bulldogs, favored to win the Missouri Valley Conference, showed off their depth.
 
Drake and Grand View once played regularly but have not met in the regular season since 1981. Ella Larsen's 14 points led the Vikings, who are coming off a 27-5 season and are picked to win the Heart of America Conference after winning the conference tournament last season.
 
The Bulldogs open their 51st season at North Dakota State on Monday, Nov. 4, tipping off at 11 a.m. Their home opener comes on Thursday, Nov. 7. That one starts at 6 p.m.
 
 
NOTES

• Drake improved to 7-0 in exhibition games during the four-year coaching tenure of Allison Pohlman
• Drake shot 59.1 percent from the floor, making 39 of 66 shots.
• The Bulldogs opened the second half, making their first 14 shots from the floor and finished the third quarter shooting a sizzling 89.5 percent from the floor making 17 of 19 shots.
• The Bulldogs hit 45.9 percent from three-point range, making 17 of 37 shots. Drake made more three-point baskets (17) than the entire number of baskets (16) made by Grand View.
• Drake collected 33 assists, including an assist on its first 16 baskets to open the game.
• Drake, which owned a 51-21 halftime lead, had an assist on every basket (15) in the first half.
• All 13 players who suited up for Drake scored points.
• Drake scored 21 points off 17 Grand View turnovers while collecting 12 steals.
• Drake outrebounded Grand View, 50-29.
• Freshman guard Grace Knutson and junior guard Ava Hawthorne paced a balanced Drake scoring attack with 15 points apiece. 
• Senior forward Anna Miller added 13 points in just 10 minutes 1 second of playing time.
• Senior Ashley IIams and junior Taedyn Gray scored 11 and 10 points, respectively.
• Hawthorne led Drake with nine assists and five steals.
• Courtney Becker grabbed a game-high seven rebounds for the Bulldogs.
• Eight of the 11 players who played for Drake in the first quarter scored points led by junior reserve Taedyn Gray who tallied six points, making four of five free throws.
• Drake opens its 51st season of intercollegiate basketball this Monday, traveling to North Dakota State.