The Basics
Drake women's basketball is back on the road for a midweek tussle in Peoria (Jan. 29) before returning to the Knapp Center for its annual celebration of Des Moines' Hometown Team Weekend (Feb. 1).
 
Bulldog Breakdown
In their last time out, Drake nearly upended MVC-leading Murray State in an 89-88 Racer victory in Des Moines. It marked Drake's first 1-point loss since a 70-69 defeat vs. UNI in 2023.
 
In Sunday's game vs. Murray State, senior guard Abbie Aalsma hit a personal milestone by scoring her 1,000th career point. Aalsma has scored 1,008 points in her career with 640 coming as a Bulldog. Aalsma is the only Bulldog in the top 20 among MVC scorers this season. She leads Drake with 16.3 ppg, good enough for eighth in the MVC.
 
Sophomore guard Peyton McCabe suffered a significant ankle injury in Drake's last game vs. the Racers. McCabe will be out indefinitely with no timetable estimated for her return.
 
Drake currently leads the league in a pair of rebounding stats, as well as distributions. The Bulldogs keep their opponents off the boards at the best rate in the MVC while boasting the top rebounding margin in the conference. Drake also dishes out the most assists per game in The Valley.
 
Sophomore forward Maggie Taylor has found a key role coming off the Bulldog bench this season. Taylor ranks eighth in the MVC with 7.2 rebounds per game.
 
Key Players
Abbie Aalsma | 16.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.7 apg
Grace Knutson | 10.2 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 1.7 apg
Anna Becker | 10.1 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.8 apg
 
Scouting Bradley
Bradley is enjoying the best season of the Kate Popovec-Goss era with records of 13-7 overall and 6-3 in the MVC. The Braves have won two in a row with a pair of double-digit wins over Valpo and UIC. Bradley is just four games removed from its 71-64 win over Drake in Des Moines.
 
Drake owns a 71-19 all-time advantage against Bradley with wins in nine of the last 10 meetings. The Bulldogs are looking to improve upon their 30-11 record in Peoria.
 
Bradley head coach Popovec-Goss is in her fourth season leading the Braves. She has built a record of 33-74.
 
Key Players
Kaylen Nelson | 17.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 1.5 apg
Maya Foz | 14.6 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.2 apg
Tamia Perryman | 8.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.6 apg
 
Scouting UNI
The Panthers of Northern Iowa are sitting just above .500 overall with a 10-9 record while boasting a 6-3 mark in league play. UNI most recently suffered a 68-65 upset loss to Evansville in Cedar Falls after toppling league-leading Murray State two nights prior.
 
Drake also leads its all-time series with UNI by a wide margin, 75-27. The Bulldogs have won the last five meetings and are looking to add to their dominant 41-9 record in Des Moines.
 
Legendary head coach Tanya Warren is in her 19th season guiding the Panthers' women's basketball program. She is 349-253 all-time at UNI
 
Key Players
Ryley Goebel | 13.1 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 1.2 apg
Jenna Twedt | 12.7 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 1.1 apg
Bri Robinson | 9.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.8 apg
 
Up Next
Drake will also split its next two games at home and away. The Bulldogs are set to host Belmont on Feb. 5 for Campus Clubs Night before visiting Illinois State on Feb. 7.