DES MOINES — Sara Rhine scored a game-high 25 points, Becca Hittner added 18 and the Drake women’s basketball team opened the season by holding off South Dakota State for a 74-67 victory on Friday night at the Knapp Center.

South Dakota State (0-1) climbed back to within one, 62-61, with 3:41 left in the game before Drake got five straight points from Hittner, including a steal and a 3-pointer that helped the Bulldogs (1-0) pull away. Rhine went 4-for-4 at the free-throw line inside the final 30 seconds and Drake was 7-for-8 overall at the charity stripe down the stretch.

Paiton Burckhard led South Dakota State with 18 points and Myah Selland added 17. The Jackrabbits outscored Drake in the paint, 40-38.

Drake returns to action on Sunday, hosting Iowa State (1-0) for a 2 p.m. showdown. The “blue-out” game will be broadcast on Mediacom 22 as well as ESPN+.