CHICAGO — The Drake women’s basketball team erased a three-point deficit at the start of the second quarter against Loyola Thursday night and cruised to a 97-53 Missouri Valley Conference victory at Gentile Arena.

The Bulldogs (22-7, 17-0) went on an impressive 49-7 scoring run from the start of the second quarter to the first media timeout of the third quarter.

Drake had five score in double figures, led by Becca Hittner who poured in a game-high 25 points, including 23 after the first quarter. Joining Hittner in double figures was Maddy Dean with 17 points, Sara Rhine with 15, Nicole Miller added 11 and Sammie Bachrodt finished with 10. Paige Greiner also finished just outside of double figures with nine points in her second career start. All but one Bulldog player recorded at least two assists as well as the team finished with 31 dimes.

Loyola (7-21, 5-12) only had two players in double figures with Jessica Cerda finishing with 17 points and Tiara Wallace chipping in 11.

Drake is now one win away from finishing undefeated in MVC play for a second-straight year, as the Bulldogs have currently won their last 39 MVC games. They try to make that 40 straight and a perfect 18-0 this season on Saturday when they close out the regular season on the road at Valparaiso, starting at 3 p.m.