TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Anna McKendree notched Indiana State's first points-assists double-double since 2006 Saturday afternoon, but visiting Drake's high-powered offense led the Bulldogs past the Sycamores, 86-65, inside Hulman Center.
 
McKendree finished with 14 points and 10 assists, becoming the first Sycamore since ISU Hall of Famer Melanie Boeglin to notch a double-double with points and assists. She also led the Trees with six rebounds and four steals. Del'Janae Williams led the Sycamores in scoring with 17, her third straight game in double-figures, while Chelsea Cain added 15.
 
Drake jumped out to a big lead in the first quarter and never looked back. The Bulldogs shot 70 percent in the opening quarter and took a commanding 32-10 lead after 10 minutes. Indiana State never quit, though, outscoring the visitors by one over the final 30 minutes. The Sycamores cut the deficit to 16 early in the fourth, but a 9-2 Drake run ended the hopes of a Sycamore comeback.
 
First Half
Drake scored within seconds of the opening tip, setting the tone for its explosive offense in the first quarter. Williams hit a 3-pointer to open Indiana State's scoring, but the Trees were already down double-digits by the time their next basket, a jumper by Cain midway through the period. Cain hit another basket late in the quarter, but Drake closed on a 10-0 run to take a 32-10 lead after the opener.
 
Cain opened the second quarter with a layup and Caitlin Anderson added a pair of free throws to cut the Sycamore deficit down to 32-14. The Bulldogs responded with a 6-0 run before McKendree ended that with a 3-pointer. Cain and Williams both connected on jumpers midway through the quarter, while Alona Blackwell hit a 3-pointer from the wing in the late stages of the half, but the Sycamores struggled on the other end. Indiana State found itself down 52-29 at the break.
 
Second Half
Drake pushed its lead up to 27 early in the third quarter, but the Sycamores fought back. Williams scored seven points, including a pair of 3-pointers, as part of a 9-2 Indiana State run to cut Drake's lead to 62-43 midway through the frame. Bella Finnegan scored five points inside the final minute, including a pull-up jumper from the baseline, to cut the Bulldog lead to 68-51 entering the fourth quarter.
 
Indiana State cut its deficit to 16, its lowest since the first quarter, following a Williams 3-pointer early in the fourth quarter. A missed layup for the Trees was followed by a 9-2 Drake run, though, dashing the hopes of a comeback. Cain scored four points late in the quarter, the last two coming off McKendree's 10th assist of the game, while McKendree added a 3-pointer inside the final minute. Despite the fight shown by Indiana State throughout, Drake's early advantage proved too much as the Bulldogs won 86-65.
 
Inside the Numbers

• After being outscored 32-10 in the opening quarter, Indiana State outscored Drake 55-54 over the final 30 minutes.
• Indiana State hit 10 3-pointers Saturday, tied for its most in a game this season. The Sycamores also hit 10 treys against Central Michigan.
• The Sycamores finished with 15 offensive rebounds, turning those into 14 second chance points.
• Del'Janae Williams, Chelsea Cain and Anna McKendree combined for 46 of Indiana State's 65 points.

 
News & Notes

• Anna McKendree became the first Sycamore to record a double-double with points and assists since Melanie Boeglin had 18 points and 11 assists against Evansville on March 4, 2006.
• Del'Janae Williams has scored in double-figures in three straight games, averaging 19 points per game during that span.
• Saturday's game was Indiana State's first home game since the calendar turned to 2023. The Sycamores just wrapped up a three-game road trip and will also play their next two games on the road.
• Hattie Westerfeld drew her first appearance in the starting lineup this season.
• Indiana State was shorthanded Saturday, as Adrian Folks (back) and Ella Sawyer (shin) were both out. The duo have both averaged 15-plus minutes off the bench for the Blue and White this season.

 
Up Next
Indiana State heads back on the road for the next two games, starting with a Friday night tilt at Illinois State at 7:30 p.m.
 
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