The Basics
The Bulldogs are set to open 2025 with a pair of home games in Missouri Valley
Conference play. Drake will host UIC (Jan. 2) and Valparaiso (Jan. 4) with hopes of
continuing their current 5-game winning streak.
Bulldog Bites
The Bulldogs have been up and down this year multiple streaks thorugh their first dozen games. Drake began the year with back-to-back wins before dropping its next five. The Dogs have since bounced back, winning five in a row. Suzie Glazer Burt Head Coach
Allison Pohlman is closing in on her 80th career victory. She currently owns 78 wins and is looking to join every previous Drake women's basketball coach with 80 career victories.
Katie Dinnebier has had a sensational senior season. She has scored 32 points in her last two games and owns four of the MVC's top seven single-game scoring efforts this season, including the single-game high of 40 points. Valley players have netted 30+ 11 times this year, and Dinnebier holds four of those. She is in the top 25 nationally and second in the MVC with 19.8 points per game. Dinnebier's 88 assists rank sixth in the country and first in the MVC by nearly 30 dishes.
Dinnebier has earned the last three Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week awards, making it four on the year. She is joined by
Abbie Aalsma to form a dynamic duo from deep range this season. Both sharpshooters are ranked in the top 40 of Division I hoops in 3-point percentage with marks of .426 and .425, respectively.
Anna Miller's stranglehold on the Bulldogs' all-time blocks record has gotten even stronger. The senior forward currently has 246 career rejections. Miller leads The Valley and is seventh in the NCAA with 33 total blocks, and her average of 2.8 blocks per game is also slotted seventh nationally. Miller and
Courtney Becker have led the Bulldogs rebounding effort to the top of the Missouri Valley Conference stat sheet this year. Those two are among the top six rebounders in the league and pace Drake's 487 total boards, 10.0 rebounding margin, and 40.6 rebounds per game.
Bulldog Leaders
Katie Dinnebier | 19.8 ppg, 7.3 apg, 4.1 rpg
Anna Miller | 15.4 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 2.8 bpg
Courtney Becker | 9.6 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 1.8 apg
Scouting UIC
UIC enters the weekend with a record of 4-6 overall and 1-0 in MVC play after upsetting Missouri State in their league opener last weekend. The Flames have now split their last four matchups with both wins coming in their two most recent tilts.
UIC is led by head coach Ashleen Bracey in her third year at the helm. Bracey has amassed a record of 41-39 in three seasons leading the Flames.
Drake is 8-2 all-time against the Flames with wins in the last two meetings. The Bulldogs are 6-0 against UIC in Des Moines and will be looking to avoid their first loss to UIC since Feb. 2023.
Flame Leaders
Makiyah Williams | 13.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 0.6 apg
Jaida McCloud | 9.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 1.1 apg
Kemari Rimmer | 8.6 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.6 spg
Scouting Valparaiso
The Beacons of Valparaiso are currently 5-7 overall and 1-0 in league play after taking down Southern Illinois at home in their most recent battle. Valpo has also split its last four games and will be seeking its first road win of the season.
Valparaiso head coach Mary Evans is in her seventh season leading the Beacons. Evans has built a 65-123 record during her tenure.
The Bulldogs are 17-2 all-time vs. Valparaiso and have won the last four meetings. Drake is 8-1 when taking on Valpo in Des Moines. The Beacons will be looking to pull an upset and earn their first win in the series since winning back-to-back games in 2022.
Beacon Leaders
Leah Earnest | 17.4 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 2.9 apg
Nevaeh Jackson | 14.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.8 spg
Layla Gold | 8.3 ppg, 2.1 apg, 1.7 rpg
Up Next
Drake will hit the road again for a pair of rivalry matches next weekend. The Bulldogs will visit Peoria, Ill. for a meeting with Bradley (Jan. 10) before heading to Normal, Ill. to spar with Illinois State (Jan. 12).
