MOLINE, Ill. – Top seed Drake trailed No. 3 seed UNI for only 19 seconds and claimed a 75-63 win to earn the MVC tourney title.

The top-seeded Bulldogs (26-7) were making their 13th tournament title-game appearance, winning their seventh championship and second in a row. They advance to the NCAA Tournament for the 12th time.

Maddy Dean, the tournament MVP, scored 10 points with five assists and five rebounds, as five Bulldogs ended the game in double figures.

Nicole Miller and Sara Rhine each scored 12 points in the win, while Rhine added a team high seven rebounds. Becca Hittner added nine points and six rebounds for the victors. 

UNI did not have one single player finish in double figures, while 10 different players scored. Sophomore Megan Maahs had 11 rebounds with eight points.

Winning its 21st straight game Drake improves to 26-7 while winning the Valley Championship for the seventh time including back-to-back titles for the second time and will make the 12th NCAA appearance in school history. The win streak is No. 6 currently in NCAA Division I.

Drake will find out its first round opponent on Monday, March 12 as part of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Selection Show on ESPN, beginning at 6:00 PM (CT).


All-Tournament Team

Maddy Dean, Drake (MVP)

Sara Rhine, Drake

Becca Hittner, Drake

Ellie Howell, UNI

Megan Maahs, UNI