The University of Evansville women’s basketball team faced a tough challenge as they began their conference play against the Drake Bulldogs, the reigning Missouri Valley Conference champions. Despite a strong start, the Purple Aces struggled to maintain momentum, leading to a 76-54 loss. The game highlighted both the potential and the areas needing improvement for the young Evansville squad. Sophomore forward Maggie Hartwig led the offense with 19 points, while senior guard Júlia Palomo contributed significantly on defense with seven rebounds. Coach Robyn Scherr noted that injuries and illness impacted the team's performance, especially in the second quarter where experience from Drake’s seniors played a crucial role.
A Promising Start Turned Challenging
In the opening moments, the Purple Aces showed promise by capitalizing on early scoring opportunities. Freshman guard Camryn Runner initiated the scoring with a three-pointer within the first minute and a half. The team relied heavily on three-pointers in the first quarter, with contributions from multiple players. However, as the quarter progressed, Evansville struggled to maintain its offensive rhythm, failing to make a field goal in the final four minutes. This allowed Drake to take control, leading by as much as nine points after the first 10 minutes.
Despite an initial setback, the Aces demonstrated resilience in the second quarter. They forced several turnovers and went on an 8-0 run, narrowing the gap to five points at one point. Junior forward Tameshia Dozier’s three-pointer brought the score within two baskets. Unfortunately, Drake responded with a decisive 10-0 run, extending their lead to 38-26 by halftime. The second quarter showcased the team’s ability to adapt but also highlighted the challenges posed by a more experienced opponent.
Second Half Struggles and Future Outlook
The second half was particularly challenging for Evansville. The Aces started similarly to the first half with another three-pointer, this time by freshman guard Kaiden Kreinhagen. However, Drake’s Katie Dinnebier, the reigning MVC Jackie Stiles Player of the Year, quickly countered with consecutive threes, forcing Evansville to call an early timeout. The Purple Aces struggled offensively, not scoring a field goal for over six minutes until Runner made a fast-break layup. The third quarter ended with a buzzer-beating three-pointer from Runner, but the deficit had grown to 23 points.
In the fourth quarter, Evansville managed to open the scoring with a three-pointer from freshman forward Elle Snyder. The team briefly held Drake scoreless for the first three minutes, but the Bulldogs soon regained control with a 17-5 run, sealing the victory. Despite the final margin, the Aces closed out the game with an eight-point run. Hartwig and Runner were the standout performers, scoring 19 and 14 points respectively. The game underscored the importance of depth and experience, areas where Evansville will need to improve as they prepare for their upcoming road series against Bradley University in Peoria on January 2nd.