KDSN RADIO Sports
Drake women squeeze past UNI
DES MOINES — The Drake University women’s basketball team regained some of its offensive rhythm, played solid defense and ended a four-game losing streak with a 65-57 victory over Northern Iowa at the Knapp Center on Friday night.
Freshman post Anna Miller scored the go-ahead basket on a leaner inside with 2:14 left and led all scorers with 16 points as the Bulldogs won for the first time since beating Evansville on New Year’s Day. Drake improved to 10-8 overall and 2-5 in the Missouri Valley Conference by snapping its longest losing streak since dropping four in a row during the 2013-14 season.
Northern Iowa, which had won three straight, fell to 10-6 and 3-2 and has lost six straight at the Knapp Center. Drake has now defeated the Panthers 12 times in the last 13 meetings.
Miller posted an impressive stat line all the way through, making 7-of-14 shots, grabbing eight rebounds, handing out two assists and blocking two shots. Grace Berg bounced back from two subpar games to score 13 points on 5-for-9 shooting while adding five rebounds, five assists and two steals. She had totaled only eight points in the two previous games.
Megan Meyer scored 11 points for the Bulldogs and Maggie Bair had 10 to go with seven rebounds, including a key bucket in the final minute.
Karli Rucker led Northern Iowa with 12 points and Nicole Kroeger scored 11.
Drake will try to build on the victory when it plays at Bradley next Thursday, Jan. 27. Game time is 6:30 p.m.
