Drake topples UNI in MVC semis
MOLINE, Ill. — With multiple Iowans in each starting lineup and several more coming off both benches, Drake and Northern Iowa need no introductions for their women’s basketball battles. Add some postseason energy on top of the familiarity, and Saturday’s MVC Tournament semifinal was bound to get dramatic.
Once again, the Bulldogs emerged on top.
No. 1 seed Drake completed the threegame season sweep over No. 4 seed UNI, picking up a 92-83 overtime win inside Vibrant Arena to advance to another Hoops in the Heartland final. The Bulldogs will face the Belmont-Missouri State winner at 1:30 p.m. Sunday on ESPN2, looking to wrap up their fifth ticket to the NCAA Tournament since 2017.
Overall, Drake (28-5) has now reached the Hoops in the Heartland championship game six times in the last seven tournaments. The Bulldogs improved to 6-0 all-time against UNI at the MVC Tournament and have won 17 of the last 20 in the rivalry.
“There’s definitely that respect level, and we’re definitely friends,” Drake coach Allison Pohlman said. “But when it comes to game time and these ladies step on the floor — there is a mutual respect — but you just want to end up coming out on top.”
Doing so didn’t come easy.
The Bulldogs first had to hold off a UNI rally to end regulation that nearly derailed an afternoon in control. More time on the clock, though, is exactly what Drake needed.
The Bulldogs kicked off overtime with a 9-0 surge, punctuated by backto-back treys via Grace Berg and Courtney Becker that handed Drake an 84-75 cushion with 2:46 to go. A strong defensive effort from there prevented the Panthers from another late rally.
“We’re never backing down. We just put the foot on the gas and keep going,” MVC player of the year Katie Dinnebier said. “Our team really has guts. And every game that we get down in, it’s a game of runs. You’re never going to be leading the whole game. So we just know we’re going to always come back and give 100% effort every time we step across the line. That’s been a really key point to our season.”
Dinnebier finished with 15 points and 10 assists, one of three Drake doubledoubles on the day. Berg poured in 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Anna Miller added 15 points and 17 rebounds. Another 22 points via Taylor McAulay arrived with help from four treys.
Maya McDermott led UNI with 33 points and got double-digit assistance from Grace Boffeli (16 points, 13 rebounds) and Kayba Laube (14 points).
“Our adversity that we’ve gone through this season has made us stronger, through injuries and anything,” Boffeli said. “I think our chemistry is super strong.”
After a seesawing first three quarters that Drake mostly controlled — but couldn’t completely own with a backbreaking run — UNI leaned on that cohesion to ignite another tight finish. Support clad in purple and covered in blue took turns generating the noise in the closing minutes.
UNI, which trailed by as many as 10 in the third quarter, leaned on McDermott to climb back in. The Johnston product scored 11 of the Panthers’ first 16 fourth-quarter points to inject life into the UNI bench, before a deep trey with 4:19 left handed the Panthers a 73-72 advantage.
Several empty possessions ensued on both sides before Dinniebier answered with her own trey to push Drake up two with less than 90 seconds left. Two Boffeli free throws followed as the final points of regulation.
It seemed UNI might deliver a stunner once five more minutes went up on the scoreboard. Drake, though, has made a habit of clutch performances late with postseason berths at stake.
“That sure was a game,” Pohlman said. “If you’re a fan from the state of Iowa, hopefully you’re leaving as a Drake Bulldog and a UNI Panther fan. I thought you saw two unbelievable squads just battle it out.”