The Basics
The Bulldogs are set to close 2024 with a pair of road games including trips to St.
Thomas (Dec. 21) and Evansville (Dec. 29) bookended the Christmas holiday. Drake will
look to build upon their recent uptick and jump back above the .500 mark.
Bulldog Bites
Drake has won its last three matchups including two home triumphs over North Dakota as part of a holiday doubleheader and USC Upstate on the Bulldogs' annual Character Counts! Day. The Bulldogs 3-game winning streak helped overcome their worst start since the 2020-21 season to even their record.
Katie Dinnebier has been leading Drake so far this season with a team high in scoring (17.3 ppg), made 3-pointers (28), made free throws (39), assists (70), steals (23), and minutes per game (33.4).
Anna Miller and
Courtney Becker have also been key to Drake's five wins with a tandem effort on the glass and stellar interior defense.
Bulldog Leaders
Katie Dinnebier | 17.3 ppg, 7.0 apg, 2.3 spg
Anna Miller | 15.3 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 3.1 bpg
Courtney Becker | 9.6 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 1.8 apg
Scouting St. Thomas
St. Thomas has put together a solid 7-4 start to their 2024-25 schedule. They beat Western Illinois in their most recent battle after dropping games to Northern Colorado and Idaho in the Big Sky-Summit Challenge. The Tommies' other two losses came at Iowa State and Wichita State.
Long-time St. Thomas head coach Ruth Sinn is in her 20th season coaching the Tommies. She has amassed a record of 397-146 overall and 42-48 after the Tommies elevated to the Division I ranks.
Drake won the only other meeting between the Bulldogs and Tommies in a 94-69 result last season. Saturday will be the Dogs' first-ever road game at St. Thomas.
Tommie Leaders
Jo Langbehn | 16.2 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.5 spg
Jade Hill | 14.3 ppg, 3.9 apg, 2.4 rpg
Amber Scalia | 12.1 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.7 apg
Scouting Evansville
Evansville currently holds a 4-6 record with just one more matchup before hosting Drake. The Purple Aces, who won their last game over IU-Columbus, will visit Loyola Chicago on Saturday then welcome the Bulldogs (Dec. 29). The Dogs' battle at Evansville will be in an uncommon location as part of a Downtown Doubleheader at the Ford Center, the host site of the 2025 MVC Tournament.
Robyn Scherr is in her fourth season coaching the Purple Aces with a 27-75 record at the school. She has built a 171-158 mark over 11 years as a head coach with previous stops at Roosevelt and Davenport.
Drake has owned the all-time series with Evansville, 53-14. The Bulldogs have won the last 18 meetings while Evansville's last victory came in the 2014-15 conference tournament.
Purple Ace Leaders
Camryn Runner | 18 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.9 apg
Maggie Hartwig | 17.5 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 1.1 spg
Julia Palomo | 10.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.4 spg
Kylee Norkus | 10.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.8 apg
Up Next
2025 will commence with a pair of home contests during the first week of January. Drake is scheduled to host UIC (Jan. 2) and Valparaiso (Jan. 4).
