The Basics
Drake is looking to get back on track with a home and road game coming up this weekend. The Bulldogs are set to host Bradley (Jan. 16) before turning around for a quick road trip to Valparaiso (Jan. 18).
 
Bulldog Breakdown
Drake nearly took out Belmont in a hard-fought fixture before a lopsided Murray State win concluded its most recent road trip. The Bulldogs are currently 4-11 overall and 3-2 in Missouri Valley Conference action.
 
Drake ranks second in the Missouri Valley Conference with an average of 40.2 rebounds per game. The Bulldogs are one of just two MVC teams (Murray State) to haul in 40 or more rebounds per game. Drake also ranks second in the league with an average of 13.7 rebounds per game. The Bulldogs also lead the league in rebounding margin at 5.3 and hold opponents to the lowest rebounding total in the conference at 34.9. Maggie Taylor ranks ninth in the MVC with an average of 7.0 rebounds per game.
 
The Bulldogs are the top distributing team in The Valley with an average of 17.7 assists per game. Drake also ranks second in the MVC with a 1.03 assist-to-turnover ratio. Senior guard Ava Hawthorne is the only Bulldog on the MVC top 10 assists list this season. Hawthorne ranks 10th with 46 total distributions and an average of 3.1 assists per game.
 
Senior sharpshooter Abbie Aalsma ranks seventh in the MVC with a 3-point percentage of .339 (38-112). Aalsma is currently the second most efficient 3-point shooter in program history and is also seventh in The Valley with 16.6 points per game.
 
Key Players
Abbie Aalsma | 16.6 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.5 apg
Grace Knutson | 11.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.1 apg
Maggie Taylor | 8.3 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 1.7 apg
 
Scouting Bradley
Bradley enters the weekend at 10-6 overall and 3-2 in Missouri Valley play. The Braves have won their last two matchups after dropping two before that. Bradley is looking for its sixth home win in a row.
 
Drake leads the all-time series with Bradley by a 71-18 margin. The Bulldogs have won the last nine meetings with Bradley's most recent victory coming in the 2021 MVC Tournament. The Bulldogs will be looking to improve upon their 37-6 home record against Bradley.
 
Kate Popovec-Goss is in her fourth season leading the Bradley women's basketball program. She is already just four wins shy of matching her best single season win total. Popovec-Goss has amassed a total record of 30-73 during her Brave tenure.
 
Key Players
Kaylen Nelson | 17.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.6 apg
Maya Foz | 13.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 1.8 apg
Tamia Perryman | 8.6 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.8 apg
 
Scouting Valparaiso
Valparaiso is still seeking its first victory on the year as the Beacons currently hold record of 0-17 overall and 0-6 in Valley action. Valpo will take on Illinois State in Normal tonight before welcoming Drake to The Region this weekend.
 
Drake also maintains a wide margin in the all-time series with the Beacons. The Bulldogs have earned 18 wins to Valpo's three. Despite the uneven tally, Valparaiso won the most recent meeting, a 66-65 thriller at the Athletics-Recreation Center last season.
 
Valpo is led by first year head coach Courtney Boyd, who has amassed a career record of 180-85 after previous stops at NAIA Clarke and NCAA Division II Quincy.
 
Key Players
Fiona Connolly | 12.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.4 apg
Allia von Schlegell | 9.6 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 0.9 apg
Milana Nenadic | 6.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 0.4 spg
 
Up Next
Drake will be back in Des Moines for a Jan. 16 tilt against Bradley before quickly turning around and getting back on the road to Valparaiso on Jan. 18.