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Drake women withstand Iowa State’s second-half comeback

DES MOINES — The Drake women’s basketball team saw its 17-point lead cut to one on two separate occassions, but the Bulldogs managed to fight off Iowa State in an 86-81 victory over the visiting Cyclones on Sunday at the Knapp Center.

Drake (2-0) pulled ahead 57-40 after a Maggie Negaard 3-pointer with 4 minutes, 29 seconds left to play in the third quarter, but Iowa State (1-1) shaved that margin to eight by the time the period had ended.

The Cyclones used a 9-2 run out of a media timeout to get within 70-69, but the Bulldogs answered with another triple. Kierra Collier came through with a 3-pointer to keep Drake out front, and that’s where it stayed. Ashley Joens made a jumper in the lane to make it 76-75 with 2:41 remaining in regulation, but the Bulldogs scored the next seven points and finished off the in-state victory.

Sara Rhine finished with game-highs of 23 points and nine rebounds to lead Drake to the win. Maddie Monahan and reigning two-time Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year Becca Hittner both had 13 points, and Collier finished with 11 as the Bulldogs shot 15-for-34 from 3-point range and outrebounded the Cyclones 36-27.

Kristin Scott came off the bench to lead Iowa State with 22 points on 9-of-12 shooting, while Joens finished with 18 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Rae Johnson chipped in 10 points while three players — Ines Nezerwa, Madison Wise and Maggie Espenmiller-McGraw — added nine points apiece.

Drake goes out on the road for its next game, Wednesday’s 7 p.m. contest against South Dakota. Iowa State is off until Nov. 19, when the Cyclones host Texas Southern.

DRAKE 86, IOWA ST. 81

At Des Moines

IOWA ST. (1-1) — Nezerwa 3-6 3-4 9, Camber 0-2 0-0 0, Joens 7-15 4-4 18, Johnson 4-8 0-0 10, Wise 3-9 2-4 9, Kane 1-1 0-0 2, Scott 9-12 0-0 22, Espenmiller-McGraw 2-6 4-4 9, Thurmon 1-3 0-0 2. TOTALS 30-62 13-16 81.

DRAKE (2-0) — Rhine 10-13 0-0 23, Rose 3-6 0-0 8, Collier 5-8 0-0 11, Hittner 5-15 2-2 13, Monahan 4-9 2-4 13, Bair 0-1 0-0 0, Burich 2-2 0-0 6, Wooldridge 0-2 2-2 2, Fuller 1-1 0-0 3, Gueldner 0-3 0-0 0, Negaard 2-2 1-2 7. TOTALS 32-62 7-10 86.

Iowa St. 23 11 22 25 — 81

Drake 19 20 25 22 — 86

3-Point Goals–ISU 8-25 (Camber 0-2, Joens 0-3, Johnson 2-4, Wise 1-4, Scott 4-5, Espenmiller-McGraw 1-5, Thurmon 0-2), Drake 15-34 (Rhine 3-4, Rose 2-5, Collier 1-3, Hittner 1-7, Monahan 3-6, Bair 0-1, Burich 2-2, Wooldridge 0-1, Fuller 1-1, Gueldner 0-2, Negaard 2-2). Assists–ISU 18 (Johnson 6), Drake 23 (Collier 6). Rebounds–ISU 27 (Joens 9), Drake 36 (Rhine 9). Total Fouls–ISU 17, Drake 22.

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