Preview: Evansville at Drake in Missouri Valley Women’s Basketball DES MOINES, Iowa (Interstat) — Two teams seeking momentum in Missouri Valley Conference play will meet Friday when the Drake Bulldogs host the Evansville Purple Aces in a women’s basketball matchup at Knapp Center. The game features programs with similar season-long struggles. Evansville arrives with a 4-14 overall record, while Drake sits at 5-12. Both teams are coming off results that snapped streaks, however. The Bulldogs ended a three-game skid with a 66-56 road win at Valparaiso on Sunday, powered by 20 points and six rebounds from standout Anna Becker. The Purple Aces, meanwhile, dropped a close 77-71 contest at Indiana State on Sunday despite a spectacular 30-point, nine-rebound, seven-assist effort from Camryn Runner. Runner, a dynamic guard, will be the focal point for Evansville. She is averaging 21.7 points, 5.8 assists and 5.3 rebounds over her last six games, including a 26-point performance in a win at Southern Illinois on Jan. 8. Containing her will be a primary task for the Drake defense. The Bulldogs counter with their own offensive leader in Becker. The forward is averaging 15.0 points and 5.8 rebounds over her last six contests and is coming off her season-high 22 points in a loss to Bradley on Jan. 16. She was instrumental in the win over Valparaiso, where she was supported by Maggie Taylor’s double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds. Historically, Drake has dominated the series, winning 16 of the last 17 meetings. The teams will meet again in Evansville on Feb. 26. For both squads, this contest represents a critical opportunity to build conference standing ahead of the final month of the regular season. Evansville will look to translate Runner’s individual brilliance into a road victory, while Drake aims to establish a winning streak at home by leveraging a more balanced attack. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CST Friday at the Knapp Center.