The Drake University women’s basketball team hosted the Illinois State University Redbirds for the last Bulldog home game of the 2025-26 season on March 5 at 6:00 p.m. in the Knapp Center.. The Bulldogs secured this 73-55 win as not only their tenth conference win of the season, but also as a motivational way to end the home season.
“To have that effort in our last home game of the season is like a fairy tale,” head coach Allison Pohlman said. “It’s been a season of ups and downs, and it was just amazing to watch our team flourish in so many ways. We had a phenomenal game plan, and even better execution of it. I’m excited to be playing our best basketball in the month of March.”
Former Redbird and current Drake senior Abbie Aalsma put up 17 points for the Bulldogs, with 15 in the first half aiding the Bulldogs early in the game. Drake went on a 10-0 run to secure a 26-13 lead at the end of the first quarter before going over 50% in three-point shooting in the second quarter. Junior Brooklin Dailey scored 14 points for the team while sophomore Grace Knutson and freshman Anna Becker put up nine points apiece as well.
Drake ended the first half with a score of 42-28 and kept to a 20-point lead multiple times throughout the third and fourth quarters. This lead was aided by Knutson’s career-best eight rebounds mixed with a 46% field goal percentage and a 40% three-point shooting average.
The Bulldogs’ victory over the Redbirds marked the fifth team win out of their last six games.
With the goal of winning the Heartland tournament and going to March Madness on many Bulldog fans’ minds, Pohlman said the steps to achieve the bigger picture are what is on the team’s mind.
“Instead of looking forward to, ‘Hey who are we playing next Thursday? And what are their standings? And what am I having for breakfast tomorrow?’ I can not wait to get back in the locker room tonight to celebrate with our team and tell ‘em how proud we are of them,” Pohlman said.
Next, the Bulldogs will play the University of Northern Iowa Panthers March 8 at 2 p.m., where they look to solidify their No. 6 seed standings going into the Missouri Valley Conference Hoops in the Heartland tournament. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ with live score updates and play-by-play on ESPN.
