VALPARAISO, Ind. (Interstat) — The Drake women’s basketball team defeated Valparaiso 66-56 on Sunday at the Athletics-Recreation Center. The Bulldogs used a decisive second quarter, outscoring the Beacons 19-7, to take control after trailing by four points following the first period. Drake maintained its lead throughout the second half. The victory improved Drake to 5-12 overall this season. Valparaiso remains winless at 0-19. The game was a Missouri Valley Conference contest attended by 310 fans. National Statistical’s ELO system had projected Drake with a 93.90 percent probability to win.

VALPARAISO, Ind. (Interstat) — In a Missouri Valley Conference matchup defined more by grit than grace, the Drake women’s basketball team secured a 66-56 victory over Valparaiso on Sunday at the Athletics-Recreation Center. The game, played before an announced crowd of 310, saw the visiting Bulldogs (5-12, 2-4 MVC) snap a three-game skid and hand the struggling Beacons (0-19, 0-7) their 19th consecutive loss to open the season. Despite the final margin, the contest was a defensive struggle, with both teams shooting under 42% from the field and committing a combined 35 turnovers. The most important part of the game unfolded in the second quarter, where Drake’s defense completely stifled the Valparaiso offense. After trailing 18-14 following a high-scoring first period, the Bulldogs locked down, holding the Beacons to just seven points in the second quarter on 2-of-13 shooting. Drake forced eight Valparaiso turnovers in the frame, converting them into a 19-7 scoring advantage that flipped the game. That decisive 10-minute stretch gave the Bulldogs a 33-25 halftime lead, a cushion they would never relinquish despite Valparaiso’s persistent efforts after the break. Drake was led by a standout performance from junior guard Anna Becker. The Topeka, Kansas, native scored a game-high 20 points, adding six rebounds and two assists in 32 minutes. Her scoring, particularly during the pivotal second-quarter run, provided the offensive stability Drake needed on a day where overall efficiency was hard to find. Becker’s performance marked a return to form after being held to five points in her previous outing. She was complemented by a double-double from forward Maggie Taylor. The 6-foot-2 sophomore from Rapid City, South Dakota, recorded 11 points and 10 rebounds, swatting three shots to anchor the Bulldogs’ interior defense. Guard Ava Hawthorne of Ames, Iowa, contributed eight points and a team-high four assists in 34 minutes of play. Valparaiso, still in search of its first win, was carried by forward Milana Nenadic. The 6-foot-3 junior from Kitchener, Canada, battled inside for 18 points and five rebounds. Guard Kayla Sullivan of St. Louis added 11 points, while Omaha native Kayla Preston chipped in 10 points. The Beacons showed flashes, particularly from beyond the arc where they hit 7 of 19 attempts, but 18 turnovers and a 13-for-21 performance at the free-throw line proved costly. Statistically, the game was a mirror image in many categories. Both teams had 77 possessions, with Drake posting an offensive rating of 85.9 to Valparaiso’s 72.8. Each squad recorded seven assists and seven steals. Drake’s advantages came on the glass, with a 41-35 rebounding edge, and at the rim, where they blocked six shots to Valparaiso’s two. The victory provides a measure of relief for Drake, which entered the game having lost 12 of its last 14. For Valparaiso, the defeat extends a difficult start to the season under first-year coach Mary Evans, with the Beacons’ losses coming by an average margin of over 24 points. Drake returns to action Friday, Jan. 23, hosting Evansville. Valparaiso continues its quest for a win on the same date, traveling to face Bradley.

VALPARAISO, Ind. (Interstat) — Two Missouri Valley Conference women’s basketball teams seeking to halt extended slides will meet Sunday when the Drake Bulldogs visit the Valparaiso Beacons. The game at the Athletics-Recreation Center pits a struggling Drake squad (4-11, 0-2 MVC) against a Valparaiso team (0-18, 0-3) still in search of its first win this season. Both teams enter on losing streaks, with Drake having dropped its last two and Valparaiso mired in an 18-game skid dating to last season. Drake, coming off a 95-67 road loss to Murray State on Jan. 11, will look to guard Anna Becker to provide a spark. Becker is coming off an 11-point, four-rebound performance in that contest and has shown versatility in recent games, including a 13-point, seven-assist effort in a win over Southern Illinois on Jan. 2. The Beacons are hoping for another explosive performance from guard Milana Nenadic, who erupted for a career-high 34 points in a 93-74 loss at Illinois State on Thursday. That outing marked a dramatic surge for Nenadic, who had scored a combined 16 points in her five previous games. Despite their records, recent history in the series favors Drake. The Bulldogs have dominated conference play against Valparaiso in recent seasons. For Valparaiso, the matchup represents one of its more winnable opportunities in league play as it continues to chase an elusive victory. For Drake, it is a critical chance to right the ship and secure its first conference win of the campaign. Tipoff is set for Sunday afternoon.