The Basics
Coming off a road win, Drake is ready to perform in front of its home crowd with a pair of games at the Knapp Center. The Bulldogs are set for tilts against Evansville (Jan. 23) before a rematch against league leader Murray State (Jan. 25). The Bulldogs will celebrate Teacher Appreciate Night on Friday against the Purple Aces. Sunday will mark Drake's annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day as well as a White Out for Bulldog fans.
 
Bulldog Breakdown
Drake split its last two games with one in Des Moines and another on the road. The Bulldogs dropped a back-and-forth battle with Bradley before escaping Valparaiso with a 66-56 win over the Beacons.
 
Drake freshman Anna Becker earned her second MVC Freshman of the Week award of the season. Becker garnered league honors again after averaging 21 points and seven rebounds while shooting 64.3 percent from the field in a pair of games against Bradley and Valparaiso.
 
Drake has been one of the premier rebounding teams in the Missouri Valley Conference. The Bulldogs lead the MVC with a rebounding margin of 5.6 and are top three in total team rebounds. Sophomore forward Maggie Taylor ranks seventh in the MVC with an average of 7.4 rebounds per game. She has recorded five double-doubles this season including two in the Dogs' last two contests.
 
The Bulldogs' 17.76 assists per game lead the Missouri Valley Conference in that statistical category. Drake is listed behind only Illinois State with 302 total assists. Senior point guard Ava Hawthorne paces the Bulldogs with 3.2 assists per game. That mark is good enough to rank 10th in the MVC.
 
Key Players
Abbie Aalsma | 15.4 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 2.5 apg
Grace Knutson | 11.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.9 apg
Anna Becker | 9.6 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.7 apg
 
Scouting Evansville
Evansville enters the weekend at 4-14 overall and 2-5 in Missouri Valley play. The Purple Aces have dropped their last three fixtures after winning back-to-back bouts against Valpo and Southern Illinois.
 
Drake leads the all-time series with Evansville by a 54-14 margin. The Bulldogs have won the last 19 meetings with Bradley's most recent victory coming in the 2015 MVC Tournament. The Bulldogs will be looking to improve upon their 24-6 home record against UE.
 
Robyn Scherr is in her fifth season coaching the Purple Aces with a 34-108 record to her credit. She made previous stops at Roosevelt and Davenport and has amassed a career
mark of 178-191.
 
Key Players
Camryn Runner | 17.2 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 4.7 apg
Logan Luebbers Palmer | 10.7 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.1 apg
Avery Kelley | 8.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.8 apg
 
Scouting Murray State
Murray State currently sits at 16-2 overall and 7-0 in conference play. The Racers have 14 in a row including a massive home triumph over Belmont last weekend to take sole possession of the MVC's top spot. Murray State took care of Drake in Murray on Jan. 11 and will visit UNI on Friday before visiting Des Moines.
 
After Murray State's recent win over the Dogs, Drake holds a 5-3 advantage in the all- time series. The Racers have won the last two contests and previously earned one win in Des Moines.
 
Murray State is led by ninth year head coach Rechelle Turner. A 1996 Murray State graduate, Turner has led the Racers to a 152-111 record during her tenure.
 
Key Players
Halli Poock | 20.1 ppg, 3.9 apg, 2.6 rpg
Sharnecce Currie-Jelks | 19.3 ppg, 12.4 rpg, 1.4 bpg
Haven Ford | 17.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 3.9 apg
 
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.