IOWA CITY, Iowa – The Drake women's basketball team looked to get back in the win column after a defeat in its home opener with a Thursday night clash at Iowa. The Bulldogs stumbled early and could not close the gap as the No. 21 Hawkeyes won, 100-58.

Iowa set the tone early in Carver-Hawkeye Arena with the first five points of the ball game. Anna Becker eventually got Drake on the board with a turn-around two off glass, but Drake quickly found itself in a spot of bother as starting center Maggie Taylor picked up two personal fouls in as many minutes.

The Bulldogs battled back and eventually took a 9-8 lead as Grace Knutson came up with a steal and spun in a corner three on the other end. Drake then fell into a scoreless streak of over six minutes as Iowa built a 23-9 lead, prompting Suzie Glazer Burt Head Coach Allison Pohlman to burn a timeout.

The Drake drought lasted until the end of the first as the Hawkeyes led 25-9 after the initial 10 minutes.

Abbie Aalsma finally ended the Bulldogs' pointless spell shortly after the start of the second period with five straight. Knutson then rattled in another triple as the Dogs tried to concoct a first half rally. Another Knutson deuce extended the Bulldog climb to 10-0 as Iowa head coach Jan Jensen took her turn calling a T.O.

Iowa was able to weather the Drake charge and settle back in, eventually taking a 45-25 margin into the halftime break.

The Hawkeyes exploded out of the gate to start the third quarter with an 11-1 run ignited by back-to-back treys. Peyton McCabe, who was squaring off against her sister Taylor in the black and gold, stemmed the Iowa tide with a floating jumper to beat the shot clock midway through the third quarter.

McCabe added another shot clock buzzer beater later in the period, but Iowa maintained a 74-38 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Knutson hit a pair of threes from the wing in the fourth as she neared a career high scoring effort. McCabe chipped in with a couple fourth-quarter bombs to get into double figures and mark a new career best.

Despite some flashes, Iowa was able to cruise to a 100-58 victory.

"It was a fantastic crowd and atmosphere to be able to play in front of," Pohlman said postgame. "Getting off to the start we got off to is tough, hard to dig your way out of a hole like that. We did get some great minutes from several people off our bench, and we're a work in progress. Lots we can take away from this and have to get back to work and get better."

Grace Knutson led Drake with 19 points, including 10 in the second half. Aalsma added 16 points with nine in the second quarter. McCabe scored a career-high 10 points, eclipsing her previous best of 9 against Washington State in 2024.

Drake's challenging non-conference schedule continues next week with another in-state battle. The Bulldogs are set to host a ranked Iowa State squad on Nov. 20 with tip scheduled for 6 p.m.
 

Notes

• Drake led just once in the game at 9-8 following a three-point basket by Grace Knutson with 7:13 left in the first quarter. Iowa then went on a 25-0 scoring run while the Bulldogs went the next 8 minutes 27 seconds without a basket while missing 11 straight shots.
• Guard Grace Knutson led Drake with 19 points, including 10 in the second half.
• Guard Abbie Aalsma added 16 points with nine in the second quarter.
• Guard Taylor McCabe scored a career-high 10 points, eclipsing her previous best of 9 against Washington State in 2024
• Knutson made a career-high four three-point baskets, while leading the team with four assists.
• Aalmsa tied a season high with two steals 
• Sophomore starting center Maggie Taylor played a season low 5 minutes 12 seconds failing to take a shot. She got in early foul trouble playing only 1:40 in the first half.
• Iowa, winning its eighth straight game against Drake, improved its series record against Drake to 32-25.
• It marked the third time in the last five years daring back to 2020 that Iowa has scored 100 or more points against Drake