CORALVILLE, Iowa – Drake women's basketball had its 2025-26 season ended in the MVC Tournament quarterfinals by the Redbirds of Illinois State on Friday night. After showing early strides, the Bulldogs could not match ISU's physicality inside as the Redbirds kept Drake just out of reach for a 69-62 final.
 
Both teams opted to don alternate uniforms in Friday night's quarterfinal clash with Illinois State in white and pink threads and the Bulldogs rocking their baby blue throwback kit. The home Redbirds struck first, celebrating three of the game's first four buckets while Abbie Aalsma was able to cash in twice for five points.
 
Brooklin Dailey eventually gave the Bulldogs their first lead of the night at 7-6, but Illinois State answered immediately with a layup of its own. Lexi Carlsen later added Drake's second long ball in transition to inch the Dogs back on top in a competitive opening period.
 
Carlsen tallied three more with just over 60 seconds left in the first frame on an determined hoop-and-harm. Each team connected on a singular free throw in the final minute before a Redbird try rimmed off as the clock hit zeroes. Drake led 16-13 after one.
 
Aalsma rose and fired from straight away for the first Bulldog points of the second period after Doneelah Washington, who was recognized as the league's Most Improved Player prior to tipoff, bettered her first quarter-closing attempt with a successful deuce.
 
Illinois State fought back to knot the score at 24 apiece after a Dailey shot was stuffed and Iowa native Jaeden Pratt splashed from the corner directly in front of Drake's bench for ISU's first triple of the evening. Trista Fayta gave the Redbirds the lead back at the free throw line on their next trip down the floor, but Anna Becker tied the game with a quick response for the Bulldogs.
 
The two teams went back-and-forth for the entire second quarter with Doneelah Washington burying a 3-pointer to give Illinois State a 1-point lead. Kya Hurt burned Carlsen on a dribble drive before Washington came up with a steal and subsequent score.
 
The Redbirds held Drake scoreless over the final 2 minutes and 13 seconds before the break while shutting the Bulldogs out 7-0 over that stretch. Drake trailed 35-30 at halftime.
 
After being forced to the bench with two personal fouls in the first half, Becker started things off for the Bulldogs in the third quarter with a pull-up J that grazed nothing but net. But Washington continued her dominant day with two more on the other end and swished a free throw to put the Redbirds up eight and draw a timeout from Drake's Suzie Glazer Burt Head Coach Allison Pohlman.
 
Illinois State's lead grew into double digits at 42-32 with another Washington score after a held ball saved possession for the Redbirds. The margin continued to bulge as Drake fell into a scoreless spell of over five minutes, finally getting back on the board with a Carlsen three.
 
Carlsen scored again on a nifty backdoor cut as Drake did its best to chip away at the Illinois State advantage. Abbie Aalsma hit a corner trey to cut the deficit to 10 in the final moments of the stanza. The Bulldogs trailed 51-41 with 10 minutes to play.
 
Carlsen converted on another sneaky slash to begin the final quarter, this time with Ava Hawthorne assisting, but Fayta retaliated with a high-arching 3-pointer on the opposite side.  
 
Drake gnawed the ISU lead down to seven on multiple occasions down the stretch but struggled to get any closer the Redbirds' rebounding effort, which ended 40-27 in their favor proved to be a force.
 
Aalsma sparked Drake's final charge with a silky-smooth pull-up three before Illinois State was stymied by an aggressive Bulldog press. Drake forced a turnover, which led to a Maggie Taylor bunny, cutting the margin to just five with 56 seconds on the ticker.
 
Despite an admirable effort, Drake's burst in the waning seconds was not enough as the Redbirds were nearly perfect on free throw tries and the Dogs ran out of opportunities. Illinois State went on to secure the 69-62 result.
 
"Extremely proud to be a part of Drake women's basketball but just came up short today," Pohlman said. "We closed the season really well, won five out of our last eight. Despite our roller coaster season, we were able to develop some chemistry down the stretch and put our best foot forward. We continued to grow and gain maturity and a ton of invaluable experience."
 
Playing in the last game of her career against her former team, Aalsma led Drake with 24 points including a quartet of 3-pointers. Lexi Carlsen was Drake's only other double figure scorer with 15.
 
Freshmen Quinn Vice and Anna Becker added eight for the Bulldogs while senior Ava Hawthorne, playing in her final game in the blue and white, netted four points and four assists.
 
Carlsen and Hawthorne tied atop the Drake rebounding chart with five.
 
The loss was Drake's third all-time (6-3) against ISU in postseason play and the Bulldogs slipped to 2-3 all-time when competing as the No. 6 seed in Valley tournament action.
 
Drake ends their 2025-26 slate at 12-20 overall after going an even 10-10 in conference play. This season marked Drake's first 20-loss campaign since 2012-13.
 
 
Notes

• Drake finished the year 12-20 overall and an even .500 in MVC play.
• This season marked Drake's first 20-loss campaign since 2012-13.
• The loss was Drake's third all-time (6-3) against ISU in postseason play.
• The Bulldogs slipped to 2-3 all-time when competing as the No. 6 seed in Valley tournament action.
• Drake shot 44.8 percent (26-58) from the field and 38.9 percent (7-18) from 3-point range.
• Illinois State outrebounded the Bulldogs, 40-27.
• Playing in the last game of her career against her former team, Aalsma led Drake with 24 points including a quartet of 3-pointers.
• Lexi Carlsen was Drake's only other double figure scorer with 15.
• Freshmen Quinn Vice and Anna Becker added eight for the Bulldogs
• Senior Ava Hawthorne, playing in her final game in the blue and white, netted four points and four assists.
• Carlsen and Hawthorne tied atop the Drake rebounding chart with five.
• Drake now leads Illinois State in the two teams' all-time series by a 56-42 margin.