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DRAKE DROPS OVERTIME BATTLE IN 100TH ALL-TIME MATCHUP AGAINST MISSOURI STATE
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The 100th all-time meeting between Drake and Missouri State was on brand for one of The Valley’s most historic rivalries. The Bulldogs grabbed an early lead but could not keep Missouri State from stealing momentum late as the Lady Bears scraped out a 72-68 result in overtime.
The first six points of the game were all scored in the paint as Courtney Becker and Anna Miller teamed up to give Drake a 4-2 lead. Kyrah Daniels, the Lady Bears’ second leading scorer, eventually hit the first triple of the night on a fast break to propel Missouri State back in front. Katie Dinnebier then got involved with five straight points as the two teams traded blows in the early going.
Drake was able to build a lead as large as seven points in the first period until Katie Dinnebier splashed a deep three as time expired to give the Dogs a 21-13 advantage after the opening frame. Missouri State started the second quarter just as hot as Drake did the first, immediately cutting into the Bulldogs’ lead. The Bulldogs were able to withstand MSU’s flurry and held on to their lead midway through the period. The Lady Bears again gnawed at Drake’s lead down the stretch of the second stanza. Drake turned the ball over six times in the last four minutes of the half to aid Missouri State’s rally, but a pair of MSU offensive fouls kept the cushion at four points. Drake led 33-29 at the break.
After a scoreless first half, sophomore forward Shannon Fornshell got her name in the stat sheet with the first five points of the third quarter. She also came up with a steal and rebound on the defensive end to jumpstart Drake’s second half effort. Despite another quick start, Missouri State matched Drake’s energy and kept things within reach. Back-to-back traveling violations on Drake’s Anna Miller sparked the next Lady Bears attack. Head coach Beth Cunningham’s squad connected on a Lacy Stokes jumper to get within two. An offensive foul on Dinnebier added to the momentum shift as Sarah Linthacum knotted the score at 38-all. The Bulldogs were staggering at the third quarter media break with no points over a nearly 4-minute span.
Drake’s cold streak continued as Daniels nailed an elbow deuce to give MSU its first lead since the beginning of the game. The Dogs’ scoreless streak extended over five minutes as the visitors were whistled for a 3-second violation. The scoring lull was eventually halted when Fornshell banked in another for her third bucket of the second half. The Bulldogs suffered through another scoreless spurt as the third quarter clock ticked closer to zero. Missouri State took advantage of the Dogs’ offensive woes, putting together a 6-0 run. Dinnebier hit a free throw with 1.8 seconds remaining, but Drake scored just nine points in the third period and trailed 48-42 with a quarter to play.
The Lady Bears were in control for the first portion of the fourth quarter. Then, with roughly five minutes remaining, Dinnebier came up big again with a step back trey from the top of the key to tie the game at 51 apiece. Dinnebier swiped another steal, her fifth of the game, before drilling another 3-pointer as Drake reclaimed the lead. Abbie Aalsma connected from the deep corner on the Dogs’ next trip, extending Drake’s lead to 57-51. The clock wound under 60 seconds remaining with Drake maintaining a 6-point margin. Kyrah Daniels nailed a triple to cut that deficit in half and had a chance to tie the game after another Bulldogs offensive infraction. Missouri State drew closer on a pair of Kaelyn Bekemeier free throws. Suzie Glazer Burt Head Coach Allison Pohlman called a timeout to advance the ball across halfcourt as Drake owned a narrow 59-58 advantage.
Freshman guard Peyton McCabe was fouled on Drake’s next possession. The first-year player had ice in her veins at the charity stripe with two successful freebies, extending Drake’s lead back to three points. McCabe’s free throws were her only two points of the game. Cunningham took her turn advancing the ball with a timeout. After a lapse on offense, Missouri State took another timeout with 0.9 seconds on the clock. The Bulldogs stifled the ensuing inbound, but Iowa City native Paige Rocca collected and connected at the horn to tie the tally at 61 and force overtime.
Linthacum scored the first points of the free period as Missouri State nabbed the initial advantage in O.T. The Bulldogs gave it away on their next possession, which resulted in Anna Miller’s fifth personal foul. Aalsma got Drake on the board in overtime with a lefty lay in. Dinnebier did her best to carry the Bulldogs through the additional period with another deep trey. Courtney Becker added two free throws to make it a 1-score game with a minute left on the ticker. Lacy Stokes proceeded to convert an old fashioned 3-point play, making the difference four points. Drake could not overcome the Lady Bears’ late game heroics and fell in overtime, 72-68.
“We came out really ready to go…fun to get off on the right foot,” Pohlman said postgame. “You always question everything [in games like this] and we slowed the pace a bit more than usual late, so we’ll wonder if that was the right decision. But I’m proud of our effort tonight, and I’m confident we’ll figure it out.”
Katie Dinnebier led all scorers with 28 points including six made 3-pointers. She added six assists, five boards, and five steals. Anna Miller was Drake’s only other double-digit scorer with 14 points and posted her sixth double-double of the year with 18 rebounds. Her rebounding total marked a single game high this season. Elsehwere, Courtney Becker chipped in with eight points and five rebounds while both Abbie Aalsma and Shannon Fornshell each notched seven points.
Drake will conclude their current road trip with a date at Southern Illinois on Sunday, Jan. 26 before returning home for a rivalry reunion with UNI.
