EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Drake women's hoops began its 2024-25 Missouri Valley Conference schedule with a bang on Sunday, blizting the Evansville Purple Aces 76-54 on the road.
 
Sunday's game took place in the Ford Center in downtown Evansville, as opposed Meeks Family Fieldhouse on Evansville's campus which serves as the primary home venue for the UE women. The Evansville men took on Missouri State following the conclusion of the women's battle as part of a Downtown Doubleheader. Drake can use their experience from Sunday later in the season as the 2025 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament will be held at the Ford Center.
 
Drake (7-5, 1-0) connected on a pair of interior twos to start their scoring efforts while Camryn Runner, Evansville's standout first-year player and multiple-time MVC Freshman of the Week, buried a deep three for the Purple Aces (4-8, 0-1). Maggie Hartwig then hit another three for Evansville before Abbie Aalsma answered from the corner. The Bulldogs reached the game's first media timeout holding a 12-6 lead amidst a 6-0 run.
 
Julia Palomo, a native Spaniard, broke the Purple Aces' scoring drought with a triple, but the hosts still struggled to find a groove against the Bulldogs' sturdy zone defense. The Drake offense also fell into a lull, failing to make a field goal for upwards of three minutes. Anna Miller finally ended that rut with a bucket inside before Aalsma hit again from range.
 
Drake finished off the first period with another solid defensive possession and led 19-10 after one.
 
Ava Hawthorne netted the first four points of the second period to extend Drake's lead to 13 points, but the Aces answered with two consecutive scores of their own. The Bulldogs went stagnant again after that, suffering another scoreless streak of nearly four minutes and allowing eight straight Evansville points. Courtney Becker eventually snapped that cold streak with a pair of free throws.
 
Evansville nearly erased their deficit as the second quarter clock ticked under two minutes. A pair of long threes trimmed Drake's lead to just two tallies, but two more triples from Dinnebier and Aalsma re-extended the difference. Dinnebier then went coast-to-coast and banked in an acrobatic runner high off the glass to cap off a 10-0 run to close the half and give Drake a 38-26 lead at the break.
 
Drake picked up right where it left off in to start the second half with a 7-3 spurt to begin the third quarter. Katie Dinnebier started to feel it with a pair of 3-pointers including one from well behind the arc to beat the shot clock. Dinnebier eventually reached the 20-point mark on her afternoon to get the Dogs over 50 points as a team as Drake began to open things up midway through the third.
 
The Bulldogs rode their offensive onslaught to a 21-10 tally in the third and led 59-36 with 10 minutes to play. Dinnebier, who led all scorers with 32 points for her second straight 30-point effort, led the Dogs down the stretch as Drake cruised to the victory.
 
"We started the third quarter with fireworks. We stepped on the floor ready [to go]. The first possession propelled us on both ends, but we did need to be a little more presice with our passing and decision making during a couple windows, but we're finishing December on a high note and looking forward to continuing our MVC schedules."
 
Dinnebier also added six rebounds, eight assists, and three steals. Abbie Aalsma, Ava Hawthorne, and Anna Miller each added double figures while Miller completed a double-double including a game-high 12 rebounds.
 
The Bulldogs will return home next weekend to welcome UIC (Jan. 2) and Valparaiso (Jan. 4) as part of its 2024-25 MVC slate.
 
 
NOTES

• Drake won its fifth straight game and improved to 7-5.
• Sunday's game took place in the Ford Center in downtown Evansville, as opposed to the Purple Aces' usual home venue of Meeks Family Fieldhouse on the university's campus. The UE men took on Missouri State following the conclusion of the women's matchup.
• It was the first Drake women's game at the Ford Center since the 2016-17 season.
• This year's MVC Women's Basketball Tournament will be held at the Ford Center from Mar. 13-16.
• The Bulldogs are now 54-14 all-time vs. Evansville and have won the last 19 meetings.
• Drake won the rebounding battle, 46-24.
• The Dogs outscored St. Thomas 42-10 in the paint, 13-5 off the bench, 22-2 in fast break opportunities, and 12-6 on second chances.
• Sunday marked Drake's 10th game with 10+ offensive rebounds this season.
• Katie Dinnebier led all players with 32 points on 12-of-15 shooting. She added eight assists, six rebounds, and three steals.
• Her 12 made field goals were one shy of a career best.
• Sunday marked Dinnebier's second straight 30-point effort and fourth of her career.
• Dinnebier eclipsed the 1,500-point mark in Sunday's game, becoming the 21st Bulldog to ever do so.
• Abbie Aalsma (11), Anna Miller (10), and Ava Hawthorne (10) each notched double figures.
• Aalsma's day included three made 3-pointers and Miller completed a double-double with 12 rebounds.
• Courtney Becker posted eight points and seven boards
• Drake will open its home MVC slate next weekend when UIC (Jan. 2) and Valparaiso (Jan. 4) visit Des Moines.