CARBONDALE, Ill. – Drake women's basketball ended their recent losing skid on Sunday afternoon with an overpowering performance at Southern Illinois. The Bulldogs used 36 bench points and a season-high 18 made treys to down their canine counterparts, 93-66.
 
The Bulldogs came out firing in the first quarter and relied on their 3-point shooting to build an early lead. Five of Drake's first seven makes came from behind the 3-point arc as the visitors went into the first media break up 19-6. Drake's onslaught from distance cooled a bit as the first quarter progressed, but the Dogs maintained a healthy margin with a 21-10 lead after one.
 
Abbie Aalsma restarted the Bulldogs' 3-point parade in the early stages of the second frame with a trio of triples, one of which swished as the horn sounded to avoid a shot clock violation. Later in the quarter, Ashley Iiams came off the bench to spell fellow senior Courtney Becker. Iiams promptly buried a trey of her own from the wing.
 
Five straight points from Ava Hawthorne, including a triple in transition, propelled Drake over the 40-point mark in the half. The Salukis were able to find a little rhythm of their own but could not keep up with the Bulldogs' blistering offensive pace. Drake led 47-30 at the break. It was their 10th 40-plus point half of the season.
 
After a quick hoop-and-harm for SIU rookie Isabella Palmqvist to start the second half, Drake rattled off a 6-0 run including another Aalsma 3-pointer and a traditional triple from Anna Miller. The Drake offense slipped into another lull in the final three minutes of the third quarter, but the Bulldogs still owned a 75-53 advantage before the final period.
 
SIU was able to put together a short 7-0 rally midway through the fourth quarter, but Drake never lost control. Drake halted their 3-game losing streak with a convincing 93-66 victory in Carbondale.
 
"We had so many fantastic contributions from so many people," Suzie Glazer Burt Head Coach Allison Pohlman said. "Some really tremendous interior play, proud of our rebounding and our ability to disrupt their game plan based around some talented players. We showed growth in a number of areas, especially our composure. SIU had six offensive rebounds in the first half and finished with just nine…just a great example of our focus today."
 
Abbie Aalsma led the Bulldogs with 20 points on 6-of-12 3-point shooting and 7-of-15 field goal shooting. Aalsma's effort marked career highs in scoring, 3-pointers made, 3-pointers attempted, and field goals attempted. Aalsma snared four rebounds and dished out a pair of assists.
 
Katie Dinnebier and Anna Miller scored 14 points apiece. Dinnebier had eight assists, four steals, and two rebounds while Miller added four rebounds, four assists, and two steals.
 
Elsewhere, Courtney Becker scored just six points but led Drake's rebounding effort with eight boards. Ava Hawthorne scored nine points while freshman forward Maggie Taylor corralled seven rebounds.
 
Drake will be back on the hardwood next Saturday, Feb. 1, for a rivalry matchup against UNI. The Bulldogs and Panthers are set for a 2 p.m. tip in the Knapp Center.
 
 
NOTES

• Drake improved to 12-8 overall, including a 6-3 record in the Missouri Valley Conference.
• The Bulldog win snapped their first 3-game MVC losing streak since the 2022-23 campaign.
• Drake's 18 3-point baskets were its most in a single game this season.
• Drake's 47 points in the first half marked its 10th 40-plus point half of the season.
• Nine Drake players recorded at least one assist.
• All 13 Bulldogs played on Sunday. 11 of those 13 scored.
• Drake got 36 points from its bench vs. SIU.
•  Abbie Aalsma led the Bulldogs with 20 points on 6-of-12 3-point shooting and 7-of-15 field goal shooting.
• Aalsma's effort marked career highs in scoring, 3-pointers made, 3-pointers attempted, and field goals attempted.
• Aalsma snared four rebounds and dished out a pair of assists.
• Katie Dinnebier and Anna Miller scored 14 points apiece.
• Dinnebier had eight assists, four steals, and two rebounds while Miller added four rebounds, four assists, and two steals.
• Courtney Becker scored just six points but led Drake's rebounding effort with eight boards.
• Ava Hawthorne scored nine points while freshman forward Maggie Taylor corralled seven rebounds.
• Drake now leads 68-30 in its all-time series with Southern Illinois. Sunday's result marks the fourth straight victory over the Salukis.
• Drake will return home next weekend for a date with rival UNI. The Dogs and Cats will tip off at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 1 in the Knapp Center.