ABOUT DRAKE

The Bulldogs kick off their 36th women's basketball campaign in Kansas City after going 2-0 in exhibition play. Drake topped Upper Iowa 72-55 in its exhibition opener before earning a 69-47 victory over Quincy in its final preseason tune-up last Friday (11/6/09).

Drake returns seven letter winners and three starters from last season's 19-12 team, including team MVP and first team all-MVC performer Jordann Plummer (St. Louis, Mo./Cardinal Ritter). The senior guard led the Bulldogs in scoring (12.8 ppg), steals (43), assists (78) and free throw percentage (.756) a season ago and was instrumental in Drake's run to the MVC Tournament semifinals. Plummer was selected to the 2009-10 preseason all-MVC squad.

Plummer will team with fellow returning guard Kristin Turk (Des Moines, Iowa/Lincoln), who was second on the team in scoring (10.5 ppg) and led the team with 42 three-point field goals.

Sophomore center Rachael Hackbarth (Colgate, Wisc./Wisconsin Lutheran), who was named to the MVC's All Freshman Team and emerged as one of the league's top young posts in 2008-09, will anchor the offense down low. Hackbarth averaged 6.8 points per game and 4.7 rebounds per game during her freshman campaign.

Senior forward Monique' Jones (Lee's Summit, Mo./Lee's Summit North) returns to the Drake lineup after being named the team's best defensive player for the third straight season. Jones led the team with 6.1 rebounds per game a season ago and will anchor a Drake defense that held opponents to 57.5 points per game last season, the second best mark in the Valley.

ABOUT UMKC         

The UMKC women's basketball team was picked to finish seventh in The Summit League Preseason Poll. The Summit League Preseason Player of the Year Chazny Morris leads a cast of seven returning letterwinners for UMKC. Morris led the league last season with 17.5 ppg and led the team with 6.3 rpg.

UMKC entered the Summit League championships as a seven seed, but fell 73-66 to second-seeded Oakland in the opening round. UMKC finished the 2008-09 season with a 12-18 overall record.

The 'Roos are coming off a 73-59 exhibition victory over Missouri Western State (11/7/09). UMKC is coached by third-year head coach Candace Whitaker.

ROO THE DAY

The Bulldogs hold a 4-0 all-time record against UMKC, including a 2-0 mark in season openers and a 2-0 mark in Kansas City. Drake has averaged 81.8 points per contest against the 'Roos dating back to their first meeting in 1993. The Bulldog defense has held UMKC to 68.8 points per game during that span.

DRAKE VS UMKC

DATE                LOCATION                RESULT

11/18/05        Des Moines, Iowa      W, 74-54

11/19/04        Kansas City, Mo.       W, 74-70

01/09/94        Kansas City, Mo.       W, 92-70

12/18/93        Des Moines, Iowa      W, 87-81

SUMMIT DOMINANCE

Drake has had an impressive run of success against the Summit League. The Bulldogs are 30-1 all-time against Summit League foes and boast unblemished marks against Western Illinois, Valparaiso, and UMKC. Drake's 30-1 record against the Summit League is the team's best mark against any conference it has played more than twice.

DRAKE VS THE SUMMIT LEAGUE

                TEAM                   W         L

                UMKC                  4          0

                Oral Roberts         1          0

                Valparaiso            2          0

                Western Illinois    23         1

                      Totals            30        1

SAVE THE DATE

Drake has played on Nov. 13 just once; the Bulldogs dropped a 62-50 contest at Iowa during the 2007-08 season. The Bulldogs have played on Friday the 13th six times in their 35-year history, going 5-1 over that span, including 2-0 on the road. The last time DU played on Friday the 13th was a 68-57 win over UNI during the State Farm MVC Tournament (3-13-09).

DRAKE ON FRIDAY THE 13TH

DATE          OPPONENT                              RESULT

03/13/09      vs. UNI                                W, 68-57 *

02/13/04      vs. Missouri State                 W, 76-67

12/13/91      at Boston University              W, 84-76

03/13/81      at Kansas State                    W, 76-69

02/13/81      vs. Kansas State                   W, 94-74

02/13/76      vs. Central (Iowa)                  L, 58-73

* State Farm MVC Tournament Game

DRAKE IN SEASON OPENERS

• The Bulldogs are 22-13 all-time in season opening contests dating back to the 1974-75 season.
• Drake won its season opener versus Texas State, 72-54, last year.
• Amy Stephens is 4-2 all-time in season openers, including 2-0 in season openers paired with UMKC. Drake previously won season-opening contests against UMKC in 2005 (74-54) and in 2004 (74-70).

* Drake has a chance to win consecutive season openers for the first time since 2005-06 and 2006-07

IN LINE FOR THE CLUB

Senior guard Jordann Plummer is just 65 points away from cracking Drake's 1,000-point club. Plummer would be the 20th member of the exclusive club that boasts all-time scoring leader Lorri Bauman (1980-84, 3,115 pts.), second-leading scorer Wanda Ford (1982-86, 2,636 pts.) 2008 inductee Lindsay Whorton (2004-08, 1,564 pts.) and current assistant coach Linda Sayavongchanh (2002-06, 1,129 pts.)

DRAKE TABBED THIRD

Drake is picked third in this year's Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll with 296 points. The Bulldogs welcome three starters with a balance of experience and youth, and return six of their top seven scoring threats from a season ago.  Plummer, who led the team with 12.8 points per game, along with 4.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists, will spark the offensive firepower, while Drake's second-leading scorer, Kristin Turk (10.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg), also returns to the Bulldog lineup. Senior Monique' Jones will anchor the Drake defense, while Rachael Hackbarth, a member of the MVC All-Freshman team a season ago, emerges as the Bulldogs' top inside threat.

2009-10 MVC PRESEASON POLL

School (First-Place Votes) Points

1. Creighton (34)                393

2. Illinois State (6)              340

3. Drake                                      296

4. UNI                                253

5. Indiana State                  250

6. Bradley                           214

7. Missouri State                  188

8. Evansville                        108

9. Wichita State                     97

10. Southern Illinois               61

PREASEASON ALL-MVC TEAM

Pos. Player, Ht. Year, Team

  G   Casey Garrison, 6-0, So., Missouri State

  G   Maggie Krick, 5-11, Sr., Illinois State

  G   Kelsey Luna, 5-5, Sr., Indiana State

   F   Megan Neuvirth, 5-11, Sr., Creighton