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Five Valley women's basketball teams are taking part in tournaments during the Thanksgiving holiday, beginning with games on Thanksgiving.
Drake - Vancouver Showcase (Nov. 22-24)
Bradley - Florida Atlantic Tournament (Nov. 23-24)
Indiana State- Grand Canyon Tournament (Nov. 23-24)
UNI - Long Beach State Tournament (Nov. 23-24)
Southern Illinois - South Point Thanksgiving Shootout (Nov. 23-24)
Power Five Showdowns
This week, the MVC schedule features two more games against Power Five schools, including Drake vs. Rutgers in Vancouver and Southern Illinois vs. #19 Arizona State in Las Vegas. The conference sits 1-2 against Power Five opponents as Drake beat Nebraska in Lincoln in the season opener. Last season, the MVC earned four wins over members of Power Five conferences.
To the Great White North
Drake enjoyed just a brief stay at the Knapp Center as it will now play its next four games on the road or at a neutral site. For their next three games, the Bulldogs make just their second-ever trip to Canada and first since the 1975-76 season for the inaugural Vancouver Showcase in Vancouver, British Columbia. Drake starts the three-day tournament against Rutgers on Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 22) and will play two more games, Nov. 23 and 24, in Vancouver.
2-0 Starts
For the second consecutive year Bradley has opened a season with a 2-0 record, marking the first back-to-back 2-0 starts to seasons since 2004-05 (3-0) and 2005-06 (2-0). Bradley travels to Boca Raton, Fla., for the Florida Atlantic Thanksgiving Tournament Friday and Saturday.
Don’t Call It A Comeback
Indiana State has found a way to win a pair of tough games after trailing at halftime under new head coach Vicki Hall. ISU has scored 27 points in a single quarter in the second half in both efforts to help push the Trees forward for the win. At Marshall, ISU out-scored the Thundering Herd 27-14 in the third quarter while the Sycamores used a 27-13 fourth quarter to claim the win at Saint Louis.
Comeback Kids
For the second time in a six-day span, Loyola erased a double-digit deficit to pick up a victory over a former Horizon League rival, as it defeated UIC, 75-60, on Saturday. The Ramblers outscored their rivals from the West Side by a final margin of 29-13 during the fourth quarter, shooting 70 percent (7-of-10) from the field and an impressive 94 percent (15-of-16) from the free throw line over the final 10 minutes of play.
Extends Home Streak
Missouri State won its ninth consecutive home game in impressive fashion Saturday, a 74-54 triumph against a Ball State team that has advanced to postseason play six consecutive seasons. The Lady Bears have won nine straight games at JQH Arena, doing so by an average score of 76.4-53.6. No opponent has scored more than 61 points during the streak, which is the second-longest for MSU at The Q.
Double-Doubles
Drake’s Sara Rhine and Southern Illinois’ Abby Brockmeyer have each posted three double-doubles on the season. The duo ranks second nationally behind four players who have four double-doubles on the season. The rest of the MVC has combined to post six double-doubles so far this season, equaling the two players output. Brockmeyer is the first player in SIU history to open a season with three-straight double-doubles
Sharing the Rock
Drake enters the week averaging 23.0 assists per game, which ranks fourth nationally. The Bulldogs sit behind three teams currently ranked in the AP Top 15. Drake dished out 32 assists in a win over Western Illinois. The effort ranks as the fifth most in an NCAA game this season.
Assists Per Game
1. Iowa 30.7
2. Baylor 27.5
3. Oregon State 24.0
4. Drake 23.0
Charity Stripers
Four Valley players are currently perfect from the free-throw line so far this season, including Loyola’s Abby O’Connor (8-of-8), Loyola’s Janae Gonzales (7-of-7), UNI’s Karli Rucker (14-of-14) and UNI’s Abby Gerrits (8-of-8). Just 47 players in all of NCAA DI have made every free throw attempt this season.
Poll Position
Drake continues to receive votes in this week’s AP Top 25 Poll, receiving 12 votes this week (Nov. 19), which sits 29th overall.
Mid-Major Top-25 Poll
Drake moved all the way to the top in the latest (Nov. 13) CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25. The Bulldogs received 18 first place votes and sit head of Central Michigan, Buffalo, South Dakota State and Gonzaga. UNI is receiving votes.
1,000 Point Club
Valparaiso senior guard Meredith Hamlet became the 15th member of the Valpo 1,000-point club. She scored 18 points in a win over St. Francis (NY) to advance her career mark of 1,013. Hamlet is one of four active MVC players in the 1,000 point club.
Current MVC Players in 1,000 Point Club
1,260 - Maddy Dean, Drake
1,097 - Sara Rhine, Drake
1,014 - Ellie Howell, UNI
1,013 - Meredith Hamlet, Valparaiso