CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Drake University women's basketball went on the road for a rivalry tilt to close its 2025-26 regular season slate. The Bulldogs visited in-state foe UNI, and started the game with major energy, before slipping up late for a 65-68 loss.
 
Brooklin Dailey and the Drake defense started Sunday's contest with a quick forced turnover after UNI won the opening tipoff. Dailey nearly tallied the game's first bucket on the other end, but her 3-point try rimmed out. A crashing Anna Becker was in the right place at the right time to clean up for two.
 
That score was the only one for either team for over two minutes until Grace Knutson, returning to her hometown of Cedar Falls, beat an expiring shot clock with a slick turn-around jumper.
 
Offense remained at a premium over the first 10 minutes as both squads struggled to maintain possession of the basketball. The Bulldogs and Panthers combined for nine turnovers, five of which were committed by UNI, in the first four minutes of play. Abbie Aalsma benefitted from one of those Panther giveaways, picking off an inbound pass and streaking coast-to-coast for a smooth layup.
 
UNI finally got on the board via a Jenna Twedt triple with about 5 1/2 minutes left in the first period, cutting Drake's modest margin in half. The Panthers did not score again until the 2-minute mark came and went when Twedt split a pair of free throws.
 
Drake led 17-4 after the Bulldog defense put together its best quarter of the season, holding UNI to 1-of-12 shooting in the period.
 
Twedt hit another three for the Panthers as Drake's offense faltered on its first few trips to start the second quarter. Dailey eventually answered with a long ball of her own to settle the visitors back into a rhythm.
 
Veteran guard Taryn Wharton converted on consecutive possessions as UNI was able to claw back closer to the Bulldogs. Ryley Goebel, who logged a triple-double in this season's previous matchup in Des Moines, continued the spurt with a hook shot before Kaylynn Janes swished from deep range. The 9-0 UNI run forced Suzie Glazer Burt Head Coach Allison Pohlman to call a timeout.
 
The Panthers fought all the way back to take their first lead of the afternoon when Virginia Edmondson swiped an errant Drake pass and finished over a contesting Ava Hawthorne. The two teams then traded 3-pointers by Knutson and Elise Jaeger before Abbie Aalsma penetrated and banked one in.
 
Anna Becker completed a traditional 3-point play with exactly 40 seconds remaining to lift the Bulldogs' lead back up to four. Goebel glassed in one more as the back-and-forth second quarter ticked into its final seconds. Drake went into the locker room leading 32-30.
 
UNI took another timeout in the early stages of the third quarter after going nearly three minutes without a score. During that stretch, Drake found some footing on the interior with layups by Aalsma and Maggie Taylor.
 
The Bulldogs' persistent attack continued, eventually going on another 6-0 roll midway through the period, punctuated by a Lexi Carlsen triple after the sophomore guard brilliantly relocated in perfect line with an assisting Aalsma.
 
UNI snapped their third quarter cold streak and kept within striking distance with a pair of corner threes, reinvigorating the McLeod Center onlookers. Abby Tuttle added to UNI's rally, burying the Panthers' eighth three of the game. Drake led by just one at the end of the third quarter.
 
Drake fumbled its narrow lead shortly after the start of the fourth quarter as Twedt nailed two more freebies, but later baskets by Carlsen and Becker inched the Bulldogs back in front. Carlsen continued to dig in, drawing an offensive foul on the other end before stepping up and flushing two from the charity stripe.
 
Both teams felt some foul trouble as the game wound to a close but continued to trade jabs. Drake held on to a 56-53 lead at the fourth quarter media timeout.
 
Goebel had a shot for a pivotal and-one, but she could not finish off the play with a free throw. The field goal helped UNI grasp a slim 1-point lead with a minute to play as Pohlman opted for another timeout to give her team a breather and draw up the Dogs' next offensive set.
 
UNI added a couple insurance scores to its lead as Dailey committed her fifth foul of the day, sending Bri Robinson to the line. Carlsen coughed up the rock on the ensuing drive, forcing Drake to foul and extend the game, but Drake could not regain its momentum as the Dogs went scoreless over the final 2:18.
 
The Panthers won Sunday's game by a 65-58 margin.
 
"Came up shy in the fourth quarter but we came out extremely motivated and were able to capitalize on some uncharacteristic UNI turnovers," Pohlman said. "We lost our pace in the fourth quarter, got a little to strategic, lacked movement, and couldn't get in a rhythm. But we still learned a lot today and we're still playing the best we have all year."
 
Anna Becker led Drake with 14 points and was one of three Bulldogs to notch a team high five rebounds. Brooklin Dailey and Grace Knutson joined Becker atop the Drake rebounding list. Both Becker and Hawthorne led Drake with two assists apiece while Hawthorne had three steals.
 
Lexi Carlsen scored nine points off the bench, just ahead of Abbie Aalsma's eight.
 
Drake will head to Coralville, Iowa this week to begin postseason play at the 2026 MVC Women's Basketball Tournament. The Bulldogs enter bracket play at the No. 6 seed in The Valley and will face off against No. 11 seed Valparaiso at 8:30 p.m. on Mar. 12. The winner of Thursday's first round affair will advance to play No. 3 seed Illinois State on Friday evening.
 
 
Notes

• With the loss, Drake ends the regular season with record of 11-19 overall and 10-10 in conference play.
• Drake also finished the regular season with an even 6-6 mark in road games.
• Drake shot 39.3 percent (22-56) from the field and 21.1 percent (4-19) from 3-point range.
• Drake outrebounded the Panthers, 37-28
• Anna Becker led Drake with 14 points and was one of three Bulldogs to notch a team high five rebounds.
• Brooklin Dailey and Grace Knutson joined Becker atop the Drake rebounding list.
• Both Becker and Ava Hawthorne led Drake with two assists apiece
• Hawthorne also had three steals.
• Lexi Carlsen scored nine points off the bench, just ahead of Abbie Aalsma's eight.
• Drake now leads the series with the UNI by a 75-29 margin.