TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – For 45 straight games entering Friday night, Drake has claimed a win in Missouri Valley Conference play. And for nearly three quarters at Hulman Center, that streak almost came to a screeching halt courtesy of a swarming, oppressive defense by Indiana State.
 
But the Bulldogs (14-4, 6-0 Missouri Valley) were able to turn some of that same defensive pressure against the host Sycamores (9-9, 3-4) and hit a pair of free throws with four seconds left on the clock to clip Indiana State for the 70-68 win in front of 1,408 fans.
 
"We just have to be able to close the deal," Indiana State Head Coach Vicki Hall said. "What happened in the fourth quarter was Drake gave us a taste of our own medicine - they got up in us. They started hipping us, they started getting handsy and we gave it to them. We have to be able to take what we give."
 
Indiana State held a 12-point lead entering the fourth quarter only to watch a veteran Bulldog squad slowly chip away at that margin.
 
"We've had a lot of close games but not games that actually meant something like this," Hall explained. "When you have Drake in your clutches and you can try to put them down, then all of a sudden, the ball becomes very slippery."
 
Drake would extend its record winning streak in league play by turning up their defense late, allowing just two baskets out of the Sycamores in the final quarter and out-scoring Indiana State, 23-9, in that final stanza.
 
Overall the Sycamores forced 23 turnovers out of Drake – trying the most the Bulldogs have given up in league play this year – scoring 30 points off them, with seven of those coming from steals.

"Indiana State had a great game. In all honesty? They completely out-played us," Drake coach Jennie Baranczyk told The Tribune-Star.

The Trees used a defensive pressure that seemingly kept Drake from being able to establish an offensive rhythm throughout most of the game. But it was also a hot offense, complementing that stingy defense, that made the difference, particularly in the second and third quarters when ISU out-scored Drake, 43-29.
 
"We showed that we can play, we can make people uncomfortable," Hall said. "We have to make our shots, which today we did. We shot one of our best percentages of the year for a game at 47.9. We're averaging around 32 percent. But that also has to do with the way we shared the ball and how we handled those kinds of things."
 
ISU shot a season-high 47.9 percent from the field for the game with an impressive 55.2 percent mark through the first three quarters of play. Three Sycamores reached double figures but those points came from some unlikely sources as the whole bench seemingly rose their game to another level Friday night. Alexis Delgado led the team with 16 points while Ty Battle scored 15 and Daijah Smith put up a career-best 14 points.
 
"Daijah  [Smith] came out with no fear," Hall said of the freshman's performance. "When Daijah decides she wants to play, she's hard to handle, she really is, because she is athletic as all get out."
 
Drake was led by Sara Rhine's 19 points while Becca Hittner scored 15 and Sammie Bachrodt added 12 for the Bulldogs. Friday's game marked just the fourth time this year that Drake, which is receiving votes in both the Associated Press and Coaches Polls, had more turnovers (23) than assists (20).

"I think this shows where we are in the conference. Everyone doubted us and it shows we can play with anyone," Battle said.
 
Now Indiana State must rebound from that disheartening loss and find a way to bring that same intensity and pressure on Sunday when Northern Iowa (11-7, 4-2) visits the Wabash Valley. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
 
For the latest information on the Sycamore Women's Basketball team, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.