CORALVILLE, Iowa – Drake women's basketball began postseason play with a late-night battle against Valparaiso on Thursday. The No. 6 seed Bulldogs overcame a slow start to overpower the No. 11 Beacons, 81-55.
 
Valparaiso was able to muck up the first few possessions after Brooklin Dailey scored the game's initial two points at the free throw line. The Beacons drew fouls from Maggie Taylor and Anna Becker while cashing in on a Milana Nenadic 3-pointer. First year forward later answered her post-playing counterpart with a triple of her own on the other end.
 
The Beacons, who failed to win a game in the regular season but played Drake to their closest margins of all MVC foes, took a 9-8 lead midway through the opening period. Becker, who was named to the MVC All-Freshman Team earlier in the week, promptly erased that slim margin with two freebies and a fast break deuce.
 
But the Beacons fought right back. Allia von Schlegell took advantage of a Drake giveaway by scooping one off the glass for two before Fiona Connolly inched Valpo back in front.
 
Taedyn Gray and the Drake (12-19, 10-10) defense came up a takeaway as the first quarter clock ticked down. Grace Knutson launched a wing three, which failed to draw iron, but Lexi Carlsen was in the right spot for the offensive board and subsequent putback. Drake led 16-15 after the first quarter.
 
Dailey started the scoring again in the second stanza, completing an old fashioned 3-point play on a Bulldog runout. But Drake could not figure out the Beacons' physical defensive pressure and settle into a rhythm.
 
Dailey did her best to change that, igniting a 7-0 Bulldog run with four straight points. Quinn Vice added to the spurt with a 3-pointer from the top of the key before Nenadic ended the Beacon dry spell with a penetrating two.
 
Drake got its lead into double figures for the first time on a Grace Knutson long ball, but Isabella Anderson responded with another trey on the other side. Abbie Aalsma added to the 3-point barrage with one of her own shortly after Knutson's and another with 30 seconds to play in the half. Drake's offensive groove held the Dogs build a 43-27 halftime lead.
 
Valparaiso (0-32, 0-20) shot out of the locker room after the halftime hiatus, scoring on a deep three by von Schlegell and forcing a couple more Bulldog turnovers. Maggie Taylor halted the brief Valpo blitz with her second traditional 3-point play of the night. Taylor's takeover helped Drake get reorganized, which led to Valpo head coach Courtney Boyd signaling for a timeout.
 
The Bulldogs continued to pour it on toward the end of the third period, holding Valpo scoreless for over four minutes and extending their lead over 20. Drake went into the final 10 minutes holding on to a 60-41 advantage.
 
The fourth quarter was all Bulldogs from start to finish. Drake's lead elevated to 30 points in the final few moments as the Bulldogs were able to get every active player on the floor. The Dogs cruised the rest of the way to the 81-55 result, advancing to the MVC quarterfinals.
 
"Overall, really pleased with our effort," Suzie Glazer Burt Head Coach Allison Pohlman said. "Another game notched in the MVC Tournament, taking on a Valparaiso team that hasn't shown any amount of quit whatsoever this season. I know our team was anticipating stepping on the floor for a long time today, but so proud of our fight and tenacity. We did a great job rebounding and shared the basketball so well."
 
Abbie Aalsma led Drake with 16 points while grabbing three rebounds and three assists. Four other Bulldogs posted double digit points including Grace Knutson with 12, both Brooklin Dailey and Quinn Vice with 11, and Maggie Taylor with 10.
 
Taylor led the Bulldogs on the glass with a team high nine rebounds, ahead of Vice and Lexi Carlsen with seven. Ava Hawthorne's five assists were tops on the Drake roster.
 
The Drake win was their 12th of the season and moved them further in the MVC Tournament. The Bulldogs will turn around for another late-night clash tomorrow against No. 3 seed Illinois State. Drake and the Redbirds will tip off at 8:30 p.m.

 
Notes

• With the win, Drake improved to 12-19 overall.
• The victory advances Drake into the MVC Tournament quarterfinals.
• Drake shot 41.5 percent (27-65) from the field and 29.6 percent (8-27) from 3-point range.
• Drake outrebounded the Beacons, 47-29.
• Abbie Aalsma led Drake with 16 points while grabbing three rebounds and three assists.
• Four other Bulldogs posted double digit points including Grace Knutson with 12, both Brooklin Dailey and Quinn Vice with 11, and Maggie Taylor with 10.
• Taylor led the Bulldogs on the glass with a team high nine rebounds, ahead of Vice and Lexi Carlsen with seven.
• Ava Hawthorne's five assists were tops on the Drake roster.
• Drake now leads Valpo in the two teams' all-time series by a 21-3 margin.