TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Drake women's basketball came up just short of the century mark in a 97-77 demolition of Indiana State to open Missouri Valley Conference play on Wednesday night. The Bulldogs overcame a first period deficit to stomp the Sycamores and halt an 8-game losing skid.

Drake got out to a much quicker start than in recent contests thanks to Quinn Vice's early rebounding effort and a wide-open transition two by the freshman forward. Abbie Aalsma added to the Dogs' productive opening period with a corner triple. Senior guard Ava Hawthorne splashed a 3-pointer of her own after a brilliant Taedyn Gray dish to draw a timeout from second year Sycamore head coach Marc Mitchell.
 
Indiana State answered Drake's 6-0 run with a spurt of its own out of the timeout. The hosts were able to keep well within striking distance at the free throw line as Drake was whistled for its fifth team foul of the first quarter with just over four minutes on the clock.
 
The Sycamores ignited their defensive pressure, eventually tying the score at 13 apiece on an Amerie Flowers mid-range baseline jumper. Indiana State promptly retook the lead on a Samiyah Briggs triple.
 
The Bulldog offense slumped a bit thanks to Indiana State's amped-up energy, going without a field goal for nearly the final five minutes of the first quarter. The Dogs stayed in it at the charity stripe, trailing 21-18 at the first quarter break.
 
Anna Becker tracked down a long rebound after ISU came up empty on the first possession of the second period. Becker was rewarded at the other end, maneuvering in the paint and converting a traditional 3-point play to even the team tally.
 
Drake found another groove midway through the second period when Lexi Carlsen muscled away an offensive rebound, leading to a Brooklin Dailey three. Carlsen then added a long ball of her own in between a pair of Gray lay-ups as Drake's lead blossomed into double digits.
 
The Bulldogs continued to exploit Indiana State's hyper-aggressive defense as the clock ticked toward halftime, but a fatigued finish allowed the Sycamores to trim into the Drake advantage, which sat at 48-42 heading into the locker room.
 
The Bulldog lead was swiftly extended back into double figures out of the half as Drake cashed in on its first four possessions of the third period, three of which came in the paint. The Sycamores scored on their first trip of the half, but a 14-0 response by the Dogs put some distance between the two blue-and-white clad teams.
 
Aalsma nailed a trey with about four and a half minutes left in the third stanza, extending Drake's difference to 20 points. Gray eclipsed her career high scoring total later in the quarter as Drake cruised to its second straight 30-point quarter (30 in the second, 34 in the third). The Dogs led 82-54 with 10 minutes to play.
 
A short Indiana State run cut the Drake lead back under 20 points, but Aalsma ended that idea of a comeback with a smooth baseline runner before Gray put another up and in on the interior.
 
Shannon Fornshell capped Drake's explosive evening in Terre Haute with a corner three as the Bulldogs coasted to a 97-75 victory.
 
"You saw the joy on everybody's faces as the game went on," Suzie Glazer Head Coach Allison Pohlman said. "When you're in the position that we were coming into this game, it's a great feeling to celebrate every play, and we had a lot to celebrate tonight. We had great contributions from everybody and just shared the ball so well. As a coach, really proud of our group for putting things together that we work on in practice and seeing that executed in a game."
 
Abbie Aalsma neared her career high with 21 points to lead the Bulldogs but set a season best with five assists.
 
Four other Drake standouts scored double digits including Taedyn Gray with a career high 13. Brooklin Dailey added a dozen and had a career high five assists. Quinn Vice chipped in with 11 and Anna Becker rounded out the double figure scorers with 10.
 
The Bulldogs will return to the Knapp Center for their regular season finale on Sunday, Dec. 21 when the Golden Gophers of Minnesota visit Des Moines. Drake and Minnesota will tip off at 2 p.m.
 
Notes

• With the win, Drake improved to 2-8 this season and ended its 8-game losing skid.
• Drake's win was its seventh straight over Indiana State.
• The Bulldogs are now 25-17 all-time against the Sycamores.
• Drake's 34-point third quarter was its highest scoring period of the season.
• The Dogs also scored 30 points in second stanza.
• The Bulldogs also took a 48-42 lead into halftime, marking their first halftime advantage since their season-opening win at Eastern Illinois on Nov. 3.
• Drake has now won three consecutive MVC openers.
• Drake outrebounded the Sycamores, 50-42.
• The Bulldogs shot .507 from the field and .320 from 3-point range
• Abbie Aalsma neared her career high with 21 points to lead the Bulldogs
• Aalsma also set a season best with five assists.
• Taedyn Gray scored a career high 13 points.
• Brooklin Dailey added a dozen and had a career high five assists.
• Quinn Vice chipped in with 11 points and Anna Becker rounded out the double figure scorers with 10.
• Drake improved its all-time record vs. Indiana State to 68-24.