Drake women’s basketball coach Allison Pohlman believes the team fans watched at the end of last season will be the one picked to finish third in the Missouri Valley race. The Bulldogs overcame a rash of injuries and a 3-7 start to league play last season to finish 20-14 after winning eight of their last 10 games.

The Bulldogs will be tested by a demanding non-conference schedule that includes Iowa, Iowa State and two other teams that are nationally ranked.

Drake got an early start by playing three games during a trip to Italy over the summer.

They open at home on November seventh against Green Bay.