DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake women's basketball team led wire-to-wire in an 82-62 victory over Valparaiso at the Knapp Center to clinch at least a share of the 2023-24 Missouri Valley Conference regular season title on Saturday afternoon. Seniors Grace Berg, Anna Brown and Taylor McAulay were recognized in a postgame Senior Day ceremony before the Bulldogs cut down the nets to celebrate their 10th all-time MVC regular season championship. 
 
All five Bulldog starters scored in double figures highlighted by a double-double (12 points, 10 rebounds) from Anna Miller. Berg and Courtney Becker each added a team-high 14 points while McAulay contributed 10 points knocking down a pair of triples. Katie Dinnebier dished out seven assists and put up 11 points. 
 
Valparaiso (5-22, 4-14) stayed within an arm's length early on. The Beacons trailed by a bucket at 13-11 before Shannon Fornshell drilled a trifecta in the final minute of the opening quarter. Drake (24-5, 17-1) led 17-11 after one frame. 
 
The Bulldogs failed to extend their lead to double digits in the second quarter as the Beacons hung around thanks to Leah Earnest inside and Olivia Brown from the perimeter. Dinnebier scored Drake's last five points of the first half, first off a driving layup followed by a three-pointer in the waning seconds before halftime. The two teams entered the locker room with the host Bulldogs controlling a 36-28 lead at the break.
 
Drake began to pull away in the third quarter. About halfway through the third stanza, Berg's putback fell as she drew a foul for a 48-36 edge. Berg muscled down low near the end of the period to push the margin to 62-47 in favor of the Bulldogs. 
 
The Beacons' deficit ballooned to 20 points at the 4:37 mark of the fourth quarter when Courtney Becker took advantage of a Valpo turnover for a layup on the other end, ahead 76-56. 
 
A balanced effort keyed an 82-62 victory for Drake and the celebration was on. Drake was able to empty their bench and applaud all three seniors in a well-earned home finale victory.
 
"It's a really, really special thing to pay tribute to our fans and to be conference champions," Suzie Glazer Burt Head Coach Allison Pohlman said. "This team is special. What's unique about this group is that they're really committed to staying in the moment. We're excited about our journey and will celebrate today, but we've got two more regular season games and an important trip to Hoops in the Heartland, so we've got to refocus and take care of business."
 
Drake women's basketball will enter the final week of the regular season with a visit to Evansville on Thursday, March 6 at 6 p.m.
 
NOTES

• Drake, earning its ninth straight win, improved to 24-5 overall while clinching a share of the Missouri Valley Conference regular season title with a league record of 17-1.
• This marked the 10th time in Drake school history the Bulldogs have won or earned a share of the MVC regular season crown (1984, 1988, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2024).
• By virtue of winning the tiebreaker against Belmont, Drake also clinched the No. 1 seed in the MVC Tournament from March 14-17 in Moline, Ill.
• This marked the ninth time in Drake program history the Bulldogs have won 24 or more games in a season.
• The 24 victories are the most by the Bulldogs in a season since the 2018-19 Drake team posted a 27-7 record.
• The 17 conference wins are the most by a Drake team in the Missouri Valley Conference since the 2018-19 team won the league title with a 17-1 league record.
• This marked the 19th time Drake has won a game by double figures this season, including the 11th MVC contest.
• This also marked the fifth time in program history Drake has won 17 or more games in the MVC (1998-17, 2017-18, 2018-18 & 2019-17).
• Drake, earning its 10th straight home victory, improved to 15-2 in the Knapp Center this season.
• The 10 straight home victories are the most by Drake since the 2017-18 team also won 10 consecutive home victories.
• The Bulldogs shot 54.5 percent (30-55), improving their record to 12-2 when shooting more than 50 percent in a game this season including 7-0 in MVC games.
• Drake shot 70 percent in the first quarter (7-10) en route to a 17-11 lead.
• Drake collected 11 steals, marking the 10th time this season the Bulldogs had 10 or more steals in a game.
• Drake outrebounded Valparaiso, 41-21, scoring 20 second-chance points.
• Drake, which enjoyed a 36-28 halftime lead, improved its record to 21-1 when leading at halftime.
• Grace Berg, playing in her final home game in a Drake uniform, paced a balanced scoring attack with 14 points, making six of nine shots.
• Courtney Becker also tallied a team-high 14 points, including seven in the opening 6 minutes 41 seconds of the first quarter which surpassed her entire output of five points at Valparaiso on Jan. 12.
• Becker tied a career high with two blocked shots.
• Anna Miller enjoyed her 14th double-double of the season (21st in career), including fifth straight game with 12 points and a game-high 10 rebounds.
• Guard Katie Dinnebier added 11 points, seven assists and five steals.
• It marked the 14th game this season Dinnebier has collected three or more steals in a game.