DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake women's basketball team ruffled some Redbird feathers on Friday evening with a 79-74 win in Des Moines. The Bulldogs and Redbirds traded runs all night, but Drake had the final say in its rivalry win over Illinois State.
 
Drake (14-8, 8-3) grabbed an early advantage over the Redbirds thanks to a pair of 3-point buckets from Abbie Aalsma and Anna Miller. Illinois State was able to settle themselves and eventually tie the tally at 8-all midway through the first period.
 
The Bulldogs jumped back in front, but Illinois State (14-8, 8-3) continued to match, eventually knotting the score at 14 apiece. Drake then canned a couple more deep balls to regain a slight margin and led 22-16 at the quarter break.
 
Miller started the second quarter with a driving deuce, but the Redbirds' offensive attack did not falter. Evansville transfer Nevaeh Thomas and graduate student Elyce Knudsen splashed in a pair of 3-balls to cut Drake's lead to just two points. Those two treys forced Suzie Glazer Burt Head Coach Allison Pohlman to spend a timeout to regroup. Despite the pause, the Redbirds continued to push their way back into the game, eventually grabbing a lead after back-to-back baskets.
 
Another spurt by the Bulldogs sparked by a Taedyn Gray triple and five straight Aalsma points swapped the lead for the second time in the first half. Both teams traded the lead down the stretch of the second quarter with Illinois State on top 39-36 with just over two minutes to play. Drake was able to claw back to even the marks again at 41-41 with 16 seconds on the clock as Katie Dinnebier tipped in a miss, volleyball set style. Miller rejected an Illinois State attempt at the horn as the teams went into the break deadlocked.
 
Drake exploded into the second half with the first eight points of the third period over nearly four minutes of action. The Redbirds went cold through that same stretch as the 49-41 score forced an Illinois State timeout. A pair of Maya Wong 3-pointers got the Redbirds back on the board and eventually tied the score at 49 apiece.
 
Illinois State was able to inch back in front as the third quarter timer expired. Knudsen collected a loose ball and heaved a deep trey that connected. The three gave ISU a 56-53 lead with a quarter to play.
 
Katie Dinnebier then started to make her mark on the contest with just over five minutes remaining. The senior guard scored eight straight points to get into double figures and ignite the Knapp Center into a frenzy. The Bulldogs fed off their faithful fans' energy and retook the lead at 67-64.
 
The tension in the building persisted through the rest of the contest. After exchanging the lead once more, Drake crept back in front. A Katie Dinnebier free throw with 1:24 left and Anna Miller hook shot with 41 seconds on the clock put the Dogs on top by three points. Two more freebies from Courtney Becker added to Drake's late advantage before a Redbird shot fell short. Drake held on to win a frenetic Friday matchup, 79-74.
 
"Very thrilling game…going into those timeouts down the stretch, we loved the vibe of our team," Pohlman said. "To win by 30 is really nice, but these sorts of games force the character of our women come out. As a coach, I find a lot of pride in that support within our team. This is a really good Illinois State team that we just beat, just so proud of our determination."
 
Katie Dinnebier recorded her fifth double-double of the season, and 11th of her career, with 19 points and a game-high 11 assists. It marked the fifth game this season Dinnebier had reached double figures in assists. Dinnebier now has 699 career assists. She scored 13 points in the fourth quarter, including eight straight points in a 2:12 stretch.
 
Anna Miller enjoyed her eighth double-double of season, the 32nd of her career, with 18 points and game-high 13 rebounds. Abbie Aalsma, added 14 points, making three three-point baskets. It marked the eighth time this season she has made three-plus 3-point baskets in a game.
 
Elsewhere, Ava Hawthorne chipped in with 11 points including a perfect 6-for-6 night at the free throw line. Courtney Becker collected 12 rebounds for her seventh double-figure rebounding game of the season.
 
Drake will conclude Des Moines' Hometown Team Weekend on Sunday with a date versus Bradley. The rematch of Bulldogs and Braves will tip off at 2 p.m. in the Knapp Center.
 
 
NOTES

• Drake, winning its third straight game, improved to 14-8 overall, including an 8-3 record in the Missouri Valley Conference.
• Drake held Illinois State to just one basket in the final 1:47 of the game, closing the contest on a 7-2 run to break a 72-72 tie.
• Drake shot 46.6 percent (27-58 from the floor), including 72.2 percent (8-11) in the fourth quarter.
• Drake outrebounded Illinois State, 43-30, marking the second straight game the Bulldogs pulled down 40-plus rebounds.
• The Bulldogs grabbed 11 offensive rebounds, marking the 17th game in which Drake has collected 10-plus offensive rebounds.
• Drake held Illinois State without a basket for the opening 5:19 of the second half as the Redbirds missed their first eight shots.
• There were 14 ties and 10 lead changes in the game.
• Katie Dinnebier recorded her fifth double-double of the season (11th career) with 19 points and a game-high 11 assists.
• It marked the fifth game this season Dinnebier had reached double figures in assists. Dinnebier now has 699 career assists.
• Dinnebier scored 13 points in the fourth quarter, including eight straight points in a 2:12 stretch.
• Anna Miller enjoyed her eighth double-double of season (32nd career) with 18 points and game-high 13 rebounds.
• Abbie Aalsma, added 14 points, making three three-point baskets. It marked the eighth time this season she has made three-plus 3-point baskets in a game.
• Ava Hawthorne chipped in with 11 points including a perfect 6-for-6 night at the free throw line.
• Courtney Becker collected 12 rebounds - her seventh double-figure rebounding game of the season.
• Drake has won five of the last six meetings (including three straight) against Illinois State, owning a 54-40 lead in the series. The Bulldogs are 29-13 in Des Moines against Illinois State, winning the last 11 meetings dating back to 2014.