The Basics
Drake women's basketball is looking to get back on track after three state regional rivalry losses. The Bulldogs are in Nashville for the Music City Classic from Nov. 24-25. Drake will tip off its tournament play against Arkansas tomorrow at 5:45 p.m. before squaring off with Northern Kentucky on Wednesday at 1:15 p.m.
 
Bulldog Breakdown
Drake has been tested in a major way over its last two matchups, suffering a pair of convincing losses at the hands of Iowa and Iowa State. The Bulldogs got off to slow starts in both of those games but battled to show positive signs in two straight ranked games.
 
Tuesday's game marks the third straight matchup against a power conference opponent for Drake. The Bulldogs have dropped two meetings with ranked Iowa and Iowa State squads. They will take on Arkansas and another power league team, Minnesota, later in their non-conference slate.
 
Since 2000, Drake women's basketball is 28-19 overall in games played at neutral site multi-team events. Most recently, the Bulldogs went 1-2 at the 2024 San Juan Shootout in Puerto Rico. The Bulldogs spent the last two days practicing on the campus of Belmont University, their MVC counterpart. Drake is 2-1 playing against Belmont in Nashville.
 
Drake's offense has found a rhythm in the second half with 160 total points netted in the third and fourth quarters of its first two games.
 
True freshman Anna Becker matched her career best performance in the Bulldogs' last game vs. Iowa State. The rookie poured in 22 points while grabbing eight rebounds in the Drake defeat.
 
Bulldog Leaders
Abbie Aalsma | 18.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.0 spg
Grace Knutson | 14.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.0 apg
Anna Becker | 13.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.8 apg
 
Scouting Arkansas
Arkansas enters the week at 5-1 overall with a win over Little Rock in its most recent contest. The Razorbacks suffered their only loss of the year in the game prior at Texas Tech after opening with four straight Ws.
 
Arkansas owns a 2-1 advantage in the all-time series with Drake. The two teams have not faced off since March 1999, a game in which the Razorbacks won handily. Arkansas won the previous meeting after Drake earn a victory in the first ever tilt in 1980.
 
Kelsi Musick is in her first season leading the Razorbacks. She has posted a 321-165 coaching record after three years at Oral Roberts and 13 seasons at Division II Southwestern Oklahoma.
 
Key Players
Taleyah Jones | 16.5 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 3.2 apg
Bonnie Deas | 14.2 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 2.8 apg
Emily Robinson | 10.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.8 apg
 
Scouting Northern Kentucky
NKU has had a challenging start to the season with a 1-5 record to its credit. The Norse dropped their first four games, including a loss to No. 20 Louisville on the road, before beating Toledo. Most recently, Chattanooga took town the Norse in a 64-62 affair.
 
Wednesday will be the second all-time meeting between Drake and Northern Kentucky. The Bulldogs won the only other matchup in the 1979 season.
 
Northern Kentucky is led by second-year head coach Jeff Hans. He has led the Norse to a 12-26 record during his tenure after 13 seasons at Division III Thomas More.
 
Key Players
Karina Bystry | 10.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.3 spg
Mya Meredith | 9.3 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.3 apg
Maddie Moody | 7.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 0.8 apg
 
Up Next
Drake will be back at the Knapp Center for two straight home games in the first week of December. The Bulldogs will welcome Lindenwood on Dec. 3 for their annual Character Counts! Day before Western Illinois visits Des Moines on Dec. 7.