NORMAL, Ill. – The Drake women’s basketball team competed hard in a 79-70 loss at Illinois State (13-6, 6-3) this evening. The Bulldogs (15-5, 8-1) kept things close nearly throughout but could not climb all the way back as the Redbirds ended Drake’s nine-game winning streak.

It took over two minutes until the first score as both teams traded a handful of empty possessions. DeAnna Wilson, Illinois State’s leading scorer, provided the opening bucket in the paint. The Bulldogs were able to answer on a precise cross-court dish from Katie Dinnebier to Grace Berg in transition.

Drake took an early 7-5 lead after a traditional three-point play from reserve guard Anna Brown only to relinquish the advantage at 14-13 when Ames-native Caroline Waite’s second three-pointer of the afternoon found the bottom of the net.

Berg eventually buried a three from the wing, the team’s first make in seven attempts. Berg’s triple got Drake back within one as Illinois State led 18-17 after the first 10 minutes of play. The Bulldogs went on to shoot just 4-of-22 from range, the second lowest three-point shooting performance of the year.

Drake reclaimed the lead on the first possession of the second quarter on an acrobatic catch-and-finish from Berg. Illinois State rallied, though, jumping back in front on an Abbie Aalsma three and a Shannon Dowell hoop and harm. Wilson continued an 8-0 Redbird run to extend their lead to seven and force Suzie Glazer Burt Head Coach Allison Pohlman to take a timeout.

The Redbird advantage grew to 10, the largest margin of the first half, out of the timeout as Wilson completed another old fashioned three-point play. Drake was able to trim the deficit back into single figures and kept within striking distance on a Brooklin Dailey three-pointer, just her second made trey in eight attempts this season.

Dailey connected again as the half wound down, this time cutting to the basket off an inbound set from Ava Hawthorne. Illinois State closed the half without any further threat from the Bulldogs to lead 37-32.

The second half started much more offensively as Aalsma and Maya Wong hit back-to-back threes for the Redbirds and Berg and Courtney Becker scored for the Bulldogs. Illinois State promptly found another groove and extended their lead back into double digits with a Wilson three.

Taylor McAulay finally broke into the scoring column after the third-period media break with a fast break three. Anna Miller eventually floated one in to cut Drake’s deficit to four, the smallest margin since the start of the second quarter. Brooke Coffey came through for the Redbirds and stopped Drake’s short run with a three for her first points of the matchup.

Drake’s comeback effort continued to build as the third quarter progressed. Dinnebier buried a pair of free throws to make 53-50 in favor of the hosts. The Bulldogs could not get back within a trey as Illinois State led 59-52 after three quarters.

Illinois State worked their lead back up to 10 points in the early stages of the fourth quarter. Kate Bullman found some separation and hit a trio of clutch threes for the Redbirds as Illinois State looked to finish off the upset win.

Dinnebier and Drake mounted a handful of comeback challenges down the stretch but could not close the gap enough as the Redbirds held on to win 79-70. The loss marked Drake’s first in conference play this season.

Dinnebier led Drake with 23 points, just one behind Wilson, the game’s leader. The Bulldog point guard also distributed five assists, the second-most on the team behind reserve Ava Hawthorne.

Grace Berg and Anna Miller were Drake’s only other double-digit scorers with 17 points and 11 points, respectively. Miller was one rebound away from her second-straight double-double with nine. Courtney Becker led the rebounding charge on both sides with 10.

“We started sluggish and eventually had some moments where we looked like us,” Pohlman said. “But there were more moments where we looked tired and rushed…credit to Illinois State’s defense for executing. We had opportunities and just didn’t step up and make some of those stops or make some of those shots. We’re a great shooting team, and we’re just going to keep shooting it, but I wish we shot it better today. That would’ve given us a little more of a chance down the stretch.”

The Drake women will conclude their three-game road stretch next weekend when they travel to rival UNI on Saturday, Feb. 3.