DES MOINES, Iowa – Drake women’s basketball moved to 2-0 for the second straight season after running away from Saint Louis in the second half. The Bulldogs used a 58-point effort over the final 20 minutes of action to secure a 95-70 victory over the defending WNIT champion Billikens.

The night started with a pair of player recognitions as Anna Miller and Katie Dinnebier each received commemorative basketballs for reaching some historic milestones. Miller was honored for eclipsing the 1,000-point threshold in last year’s regular season finale and for setting the program’s career blocked shots record in Monday’s season opener. Dinnebier received an ovation of her own for becoming the seventh player to record 500+ career assists.

The team also celebrated last year’s MVC Championship with ceremonies pregame to reveal the title banner and postgame to distribute the Bulldogs’ championship rings.

• Drake has won nine of its last 10 home openers dating back to the 2015-16 campaign, including its last four straight.
• This also marked Drake’s fourth straight non-conference home victory.
• This was also the second straight year Drake has started the season with a 2-0 record.
• Drake shot 49.3 percent from the floor (33-67), including a sizzling 62.5 percent (20-32) in the second half.
• The Bulldogs hit 66.7 percent (12-18) in the third quarter.
• There were four ties and six lead changes in the game before Anna Miller’s three-point play with 35 seconds left gave the Bulldogs a 37-35 lead they never relinquished.
• The Bulldogs made a season high 13 three-point baskets, tripling their effort in the season opener at NDSU.
• Drake collected 25 assists.
• 10 of the 13 players who suited up for Drake scored points.
• Drake scored 13 points off 11 Saint Louis turnovers.
• Drake outrebounded Saint Louis 43-27.
• Senior forward Anna Miller enjoyed her seventh career 20+ scoring game with a team-high 24 points (one shy of a career high) while grabbing a game high nine rebounds.
• Miller made a career high three treys.
• Miller also scored all 10 of her first half points in the final 3:16 of the second quarter on two three-pointers and four free throws.
• Junior guard Ava Hawthorne added a career high 19 points (previous best was just nine) while making a career high four triples.
• Grad forward Courtney Becker and senior guard Ashley Iiams added 12 points apiece.
• Senior guard Katie Dinnebier, who was named to the John R. Wooden Award Preseason Top 50 Watch List prior to the game, played a solid floor game with nine assists and a team high three steals.
• Drake, winning its fifth straight game against the Billikens, improved its series record to 6-2 against Saint Louis.
• The Bulldogs own a 4-0 record against Saint Louis when playing in the Knapp Center.
• Drake travels to No. 21 ranked Creighton on Monday before returning home No. 17 to host Iowa.

1A

Ankeny Christian – 3 vs BCLUW – 0

2A

Denver – 3 vs Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont – 0

3A

Mount Vernon 25-25-25, vs Western Christian 17-17-18

4A

Bishop Heelan – 3 vs Pella – 3

5A

Pleasant Valley – 3 vs Waukee Northwest – 0

First Team
Elly Henderson (Riverside)
Nora Konz (Treynor)
Harlow Miller (Audubon)
Meya Wingert (Tri – Center)
Carly Nelson (Undewood)
Bentley Rone (Riverside)
Alya Richardson (Riverside)
Harlie Leaders (Tri – Center)

Second Team
Grace Herman (Missouri Valley)
Addisyn Bandow (IKM – Manning)
Rylee Hemmingsen (Treynor)
Khloee Stoops (Missouri Valley)
Keagan Eischeid (IKM – Manning)
Alyse Petersen (Underwood)
Tess Casey (Tri – Center)
Alleyna Juelsgaard (Treynor)

Honorable Mention
Ruby Potomson (Underwood)
Avilyn Killpack (Tri – Center)
Loralei Wahling (AHSTW)
Isah VanArsdol (Tri – Center)
Claire Mertz (AHSTW)
Shaylee Smith (Treynor)
Lindsey Kastner (Loma)
Kadence Sporrer (Audubon)
Sophia Taylor (Riverside)
Nikayla Fichter (Missouri Valley)
Karlee Arp (IKM – Manning)

Iowa shot 52 percent and made 18 three pointers in an 89-74 win over Southern, Thursday. Coach Fran McCaffery was concerned about other areas.

The Hawkeyes were out-rebounded 36-35 and Southern had 10 offensive rebounds.

Sophomore Pryce Sandfort led the Hawkeyes with 22 points, including six-of-eight from three point range.

The eighth ranked Iowa State women took command by outscoring Indiana State 19-8 in the third quarter, Thursday, in 64-42 win. The Cyclones won despite shooting under 30 percent. Cyclone coach Bill Fennelly.

Fennelly was pleased with the effort on defense.

Audi Crooks led the Cyclones with 16 points.

UNI shot 60 percent for the game and beat Milwaukee 87-68, Thursday. The Panthers had five players in double figures.

UNI coach Ben Jacobson. The Panthers were 12 of 24 from three point range and also had 21 assists.

Tytan Anderson led the way with 19 points.

The Audubon Wheelers Football Team’s season came to a disappointing end Thursday night as they fell to the Remsen St. Mary’s Hawks in the state quarterfinal. The Hawks controlled the game from start to finish, dominating the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. In addition to quarterback Landon Waldschmitt, Colin Homan led the way for Remsen St. Mary’s, catching two touchdowns while being a force on the defensive line. Following the 61-20 victory, Remsen St. Mary’s will move on to the state semi-final next Wednesday.

At first, the game seemed destined to be a defensive battle. Both teams went three and out on their opening possessions with Carson Wessel barely missing Jack Stanerson down the field on what would’ve been an explosive play. However, after the Wheelers punted the Hawks’ offense got to work. Effective moving the ball Waldschmitt capped off the drive with a 42-yard touchdown run to open the scoring and give Remsen St. Mary’s an 8-0 lead.  For much of the night, the Hawks’ defense severely limited the movement of the Audubon offense. They also were able to create turnovers and after nabbing the first of three interceptions from Wessel, Homan would pick up his first of two touchdown receptions to push the lead to 14.

As the Wheelers’ offense struggled to gain traction, the Hawks’  showed no signs of slowing down. Before the end of the half, they would add rushing touchdowns from Waldschmitt, Braxton Kneip, and Keaton Harpeneau, while Brody Wurth and Kneip picked up touchdowns through the air. Audubon did get on the board with a 59-yard touchdown run from Aaron Olsen but found themselves down  46-6 at the half.

Little changed in the third quarter. After forcing Audubon to punt on the opening possession,  Waldschmitt threw his final touchdown of the evening to Homan. With the game out of reach, both teams gave their underclassmen a chance to get on the field. Dalton Klien added a 16-yard touchdown run to put up the Hawks’ final points of the night to extend the lead to 61-6. Freshman Aidan Kjeergard entered the game at quarterback and would go on to lead the Wheelers on numerous scoring drives. He capped off one with a 19-yard rushing touchdown and a beautifully thrown ball to Jorgen Norwatzke to bring the final to 61-20.

With all said and done, the Audubon Wheelers had an extremely successful season. They captured a second straight undefeated regular season and for the first time in program history, back-to-back district titles. Building upon the regular season success, they won two playoff games and made their sixth quarterfinal appearance in twelve years finishing with a 10-1 record. Head Coach Sean Birks was very pleased with what his team was able to accomplish.

Next season will undoubtedly look different for the Wheelers. They are graduating 11 seniors including Adam Obrecht (who played a phenomenal defensive game), Colton Hansen, Colin Hartl, and Aaron Olsen. Birks said he was proud of the leadership this group of seniors provided and the mark they left on the Audubon football program.

Remsen St. Mary’s semi-final match is scheduled for next Wednesday. Their opponent has yet to be announced.

The (10-0) ACGC Chargers football team have been dominant all year and are currently one win away from a trip to the UNI-Dome. In order to make it to Cedar Rapids though, ACGC first has to take on a very balanced and sharp (9-1) Tri-Center Trojans squad. Last week the Chargers came away with a 41-14 victory against the Mount Ayr Raiders. In that matchup, ACGC head coach Cody Matthewson was pleased with how well his team executed throughout all four quarters.

In their victory against Mount Ayr, the Chargers ran for 337 yards and five touchdowns. The productive ground game for ACGC has been their bread and butter all year and senior fullback Mike Fuller has been a workhorse rushing for 1200 yards. Coach Matthewson commented on the constant improvement and effort by Fuller during his senior season.

The Chargers undefeated season has been gained by a great rushing attack, but also by a disciplined defense that seems to fly towards the ball. ACGC’s defense has forced 18 turnovers and has 13 players in the double digit range for tackles. They’ve been a stalwart unit all year and coach Matthewson recognized it.

Up next for ACGC is a Tri-Center squad that has done a one-eighty considering they were 3-6 a season ago. The Trojans have proven to be fierce with a 58-13 win against the Riverside Bulldogs, in which they scored six rushing touchdowns and nearly averaging eight yards a carry. Coach Matthewson is well aware of the talent that Tri-Center brings into Friday’s game.

In preparing for Friday, Coach Matthewson explained that one advantage the Chargers do have is the experience of being in a quarterfinal matchup three times in the last four years.

KJAN has the coverage for Friday’s battle with the pregame beginning at 6:00 p.m.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Star Drake guard Katie Dinnebier has received another national honor as a member of the Los Angeles Athletic Club John R. Wooden Award Preseason Women’s Top 50 Watch List, the organization announced today.

A Waukee High School graduate, Dinnebier became ninth player in program history to win Jackie Stiles MVC Player of the Year last season and was also named to All-Missouri Valley Conference First Team and All-Defensive Team. She earned MVC Scholar-Athlete Second Team honors and collected Patty Viverito MVC Tournament Most Outstanding Player award. The Waukee High School graduate was included as a finalist for Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year award. She led Drake and was atop or near the top of the league with 18.1 points, 6.9 assists, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.4 steals per game and eclipsed 1,000 career points as a junior, currently sits at 1,333. Dinnebier ranks 10th all-time with .370 career three-point percentage and second all-time with .856 career free throw percentage, fourth all-time with 548 career assists, marking the seventh player in program history to dish out 500+ assists, and cracked top 10 on all-time steals list with 188.

Dinnebier is the only mid-major and Missouri Valley Conference representative included on the watch list.