SAN JUAN, P.R. – The Bulldog women's basketball team found themselves in another back-and-forth affair on Saturday as they took on Washington State in the San Juan Shootout finale. Drake got contributions from up and down their roster as the Dogs pulled away in the second half to snap their losing skid and beat the Cougars, 79-68.
 
Courtney Becker got her name in the stat sheet early with a steal on the first possession and four straight points to start the game. After a Washington State score, Shannon Fornshell hit from deep for the game's first 3-point bucket. The teams traded scores until the first quarter concluded with Drake on top, 19-18. Abbie Aalsma led the Dogs with eight points in the opening stanza.
 
The Bulldogs led by as many as seven points in the first quarter but could not gain much separation in the second. Drake led by two tallies as the clock wound under a minute in the half as Wazzu's Tara Wallack was able to knot the score. Becker, who was the only Bulldog in double figures at the break with 10 points, came through again with under 10 seconds with a deuce off glass to lift Drake to a 33-31 halftime lead.
 
The Cougars were able to snag a 41-40 after back-to-back threes shortly after the start of the second half. Suzie Glazer Burt Head Coach Allison Pohlman spent a timeout to stop the bleeding and try to slow down the Washington State push. The difference remained at one point at the next stoppage, this time a media break midway through the third.
 
A quick 4-0 spurt with just over two minutes left in the period got Drake back in front, but just by a hair, as two straight transition twos from Fornshell and Anna Miller made it 52-51. Aalsma later sank a three from the wing to give the Dogs a 55-53 advantage with 10 minutes to play.
 
Aalsma and true freshman Peyton McCabe canned a pair of threes in the early stages of the fourth quarter to go up by nine and force a Washington State timeout. The Drake lead grew into double figures as another first-year player, Maggie Taylor hit her first career three as a Bulldog. McCabe hit again from deep then Aalsma drove for a layup over Alex Covill, Washington State' 6-feet, 6-inch center.
 
The Cougars could not keep pace with Drake down the stretch as the Bulldogs picked up an important non-conference victory.
 
"I'm extremely proud that we stuck with it," Pohlman said. "It was another opportunity, and we did what do and did it well. We got back to passing the ball well and took care of the ball today. The proof is in the details, and we need to keep making sure that we have those things taken care of. It's all about getting the women in our locker room and the system they said yes too, plus the confidence to step on the floor and do it together."
 
Abbie Aalsma led Drake with 19 points and made a handful of 3-pointers, both were career bests for the Illinois State transfer. Anna Miller added 16 points while Courtney Becker posted a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Katie Dinnebier also had a double-double with 11 points and 13 assists while hauling in eight rebounds of her own. True freshman Peyton McCabe had her first volume showing with a perfect 3-for-3 effort from downtown and nine points.
 
Drake will return home for its next game as they welcome North Dakota to Des Moines on Thursday, Dec. 12 at 5 p.m. That women's game will tip off a holiday double-header as Drake's men's team will host St. Ambrose at 7:30. Fans can gain free entry to that two-for-one evening if they bring a new toy to donate to a drive organized by the Foster SQUAD.
 
 
NOTES

• Drake snapped its 5-game losing streak and improved to 3-5.
• Drake's 29 made field goals and 11 made 3-pointers were its second most of the season in both categories.
• The Bulldogs snared a season best 45 total rebounds vs. Washington State.
• Abbie Aalsma led Drake with 19 points and made a handful of 3-pointers, both were career bests for the Illinois State transfer.
• Anna Miller added 16 points.
• Courtney Becker posted a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds.
• Katie Dinnebier also had a double-double with 11 points and 13 assists while hauling in eight rebounds of her own.
• True freshman Peyton McCabe had her first volume showing with a perfect 3-for-3 effort from downtown and nine points.
• Drake's win came in the first ever meeting between the Bulldogs and Washington State.
• Drake will return home for its next game as they welcome North Dakota to Des Moines on Thursday, Dec. 12 at 5 p.m.
• That women's game will tip off a holiday double-header as Drake's men's team will host St. Ambrose at 7:30. Fans can gain free entry to that two-for-one evening if they bring a new toy to donate to a drive organized by the Foster SQUAD.