ST. PAUL, Minn. – Drake women's basketball was on the road for its final non-conference tilt away from the Knapp Center on Saturday. The Bulldogs battled St. Thomas a frigid St. Paul setting, but the host Tommies outpaced Drake en route to a 70-50 result.

St. Thomas, who entered the weekend riding a 4-game winning streak, scored the first five points of the game before Ava Hawthorne put one up and in with just under seven minutes to play in the first period.

The Tommies answered with another spurt to lead 9-2 before the initial media timeout.

Maggie Taylor was able to sink a pair of freebies out of the break, but another quick 5-0 run capped by a Faith Feuerbach three extended the UST lead into double figures and drew a timeout from Suzie Glazer Burt Head Coach Allison Pohlman.

The Bulldogs were able to cut back into the deficit after Taedyn Gray wrestled away an offensive board following a missed Anna Becker free throw. Gray's rebound found its way to Grace Knutson in the far corner, who nailed the Dogs' first trey of the day.

St. Thomas led 23-10 after the first quarter.

Abbie Aalsma, who faced off against her sister, Lydia, for the first time in their collegiate careers, scored Drake's first bucket of the second period on a nifty turn-around two. Brooklin Dailey then drew a charge on the other end as the Bulldogs tried to shift things back in their direction.

Despite some flashes, Drake could not keep up with the rolling Tommie attack. St. Thomas took a 43-17 difference into the locker room.
 
Aalsma connected on a corner trey for the first tally of the second half and later converted on a traditional 3-point play to give the Bulldogs some life. Drake trimmed the margin to 20 on back-to-back Knutson lay-ins but still struggled to keep pace and threaten the Tommies' lengthy lead.
 
The Bulldogs outscored UST 17-11 in the third quarter but still trailed 54-34 ahead of the final 10 minutes.
 
Knutson continued her standout second half, joining Aalsma and Taylor in double figures after looping in an up-and-under deuce before completing an old fashioned 3-point play. Shannon Fornshell, one of two Minnesota natives on Drake's roster, joined in with her first score of the day at the 2:36 mark of the fourth frame.
 
The Dogs did find a little rhythm in the late stages, but St. Thomas was able to keep the Bulldogs at a comfortable distance as Drake dropped its eighth straight game, 70-50.
 
"We stepped on the floor against a really inspired, ready-to-play St. Thomas team and we were just on our heels," Pohlman said. "Credit to St. Thomas for being ready to go and we just weren't there. That's on our coaching staff, we need to get them ready to play, but we also just need to focus more. We did some nice things in the third quarter, which has been a common theme for us this season, but really just have to figure out a way to get off to a better start."
 
Knutson led the Bulldogs with 16 points followed by Aalsma's 15 and Taylor's 11.
 
Maggie Taylor posted her third double-double of the season, and second in as many games, with a team high 10 rebounds. Lexi Carlsen led Drake's distribution efforts with a team high five assists. Anna Becker made a career best two blocks.
 
The Bulldogs will be back in action on Wednesday, Dec. 17, with a trip to Terre Haute, Indiana for a date with Indiana State to tip off Missouri Valley Conference play.
 
 
Notes

• Drake, which suffered its eighth straight loss, slipped to 1-8 this season.
• The 8-game losing streak is the longest at the school since Bulldogs lost eight games in a row during the 2006-07 season under coach Amy Stephens
• The Bulldogs have now posted a single digit scoring quarter in five of their nine games this season.
• Drake never led and there were no ties in the game.
• Drake shot season lows from the field (.297) and 3-point range (.200).
• St. Thomas out-rebound the Bulldogs by one, 42-41.
• The Tommies blocked seven Drake shots, matching Bulldog opponents' season high.
• Grace Knutson led the Bulldogs with 16 points followed by Abbie Aalsma's 15 and Maggie Taylor's 11.
• Taylor posted her third double-double of the season, and second in as many games, with a team high 10 rebounds.
• Lexi Carlsen led Drake's distribution efforts with a team high five assists.
• Anna Becker made a career best two blocks.
• St. Thomas' win was its first over Drake in program history. The Dogs now lead the all-time series by a 2-1 margin.