DES MOINES, IOWA -- Sophomore forward Rachael Hackbarth (Colgate, Wis.) and senior guard Jordann Plummer (St. Louis, Mo.) scored 18 and 17 points, respectively, to lead the Drake women's basketball team to a 72-55 exhibition victory past Upper Iowa Sunday at the Drake Knapp Center.
Hackbarth scored 14 points in the first half in helping the Bulldogs own a 39-29 halftime advantage.
"I thought this was a great first game for us," said Drake head coach Amy Stephens. "It was a game of spurts."
Hackbarth grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds as the Bulldogs controlled the boards by a 39-26 margin.
"Rachael (Hackbarth) has worked extremely hard so far this season. Now we have to get the right people around her," Stephens added.
Drake sophomore forward Amber Wollschlager (Milbank, S.D.) came off the bench to add 10 points, three assists and two steals.
Drake forced Upper Iowa into 23 turnovers, scoring 27 points off those miscues.
Stephens utilized her bench as all 13 players appeared in the game. Freshmen Katie Schechinger (Manilla, Iowa), Kayla Person (O'Fallon, Mo.) and Stephanie Running (Oak Creek, Wis.) played 18, 16 and 13 minutes, respectively.
"You could find us trying to find our chemistry," Stephens added. "You have to live with the growing pains that every young team has. We do feel like we are two-deep at every position."
Two free throws by Running staked Drake to its biggest lead of the game at 70-50.
Drake shot 45.8 percent from the floor, making 27 of 59 shots.
Forward Kenya Howard led Upper Iowa with 13 points.
