QUAD CITIES - Drake is back in the MVC Tournament semifinals, thanks to a typically efficient performance by the Bulldogs.
 
The top-seeded Bulldogs got 18 points from conference player of the year Becca Hittner and rolled past ninth-seeded Valparaiso 86-58 to stay in the hunt for a third straight tournament championship.

Maddy Dean added 16 points for Drake (26-5) and Sara Rhine scored 14 on 7-for-9 shooting to go with nine rebounds. Monica Burich came off the bench to get 10 points and nine rebounds in just 11 minutes of action.
 
Drake advanced to the semifinals for the fourth straight year with its 64th victory in the last 65 games against Valley opponents. It was the Bulldogs' seventh straight win in the tournament.

Drake took a 2-0 lead before the clock even started, Sammie Bachrodt sinking two free throws for an administrative technical foul on Valparaiso. The Crusaders tied it on Addison Stoller's jumper, but that was the last time the game was that close.

The Bulldogs reeled off 18 straight points to take control and held Valparaiso without another field until Shay Frederick swished a 3-pointer from the top of the key at the 9:01 mark in the second quarter. By that point, Drake was up 24-5.

Valparaiso (8-24), the league's most prolific 3-point shooting team, hit 13 of its 17 baskets from long range and shot just 28.3 percent for the game. Drake shot 51.6 percent, getting 24 of its 33 baskets off assists, and amassed an overwhelming 50-24 rebounding advantage.

Stoller led Valpo with a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double. Grace Hales also scored 15 for the Crusaders and Allison Schofield added 12. The Crusaders finished with season with 276 3s, which places them sixth on the Valley's single-season list.

Hittner moved into 25th on the Valley's single-season scoring list, raising her total to 614.

With her two steals, Bachrodt ran her career total to 274, which ties Kay Riek's school record.