On the heels of its first postseason tournament victory in six seasons, Drake continues action in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament on Monday (March 24) as the Bulldogs travel to face Illinois. Game time in Assembly Hall is set for 7:00 p.m. with KRNT (1350 AM) carrying the radio broadcast beginning with the pregame show at 6:30 p.m.
THE SERIES
The Bulldogs will be meeting Illinois for only the sixth time. The game marks the first encounter since the Fighting Illini bettered Drake in the first round of the 1997 NCAA Tournament, 79-62. The Bulldogs are 2-1 at home in the series, while dropping both their contests in Champaign. The two victories have come by an average of 16.0 points, while the team has fallen by an average margin of 15.3 in its three setbacks.
PREVIEWING THE FIGHTING ILLINI
Illinois comes into its WNIT opener on the heels of a 15-day layoff following a 58-56 setback to Purdue in the title game of the Big Ten Tournament on March 9. Sophomore Jenna Smith averages team highs in scoring (18.7) and rebounding (9.6). The Fighting Illini lead the Big Ten in scoring defense (57.2), free throw percentage (.773) and rebounding defense (32.9) and record 62.6 points, while limiting the opposition to conference-low 57.2 points.
A DATE WITH THE BIG TEN CONFERENCE
Like chocolate chip cookies and milk, the Bulldogs have found comfort over the years in playing teams from the Big Ten Conference. In 75 meetings with the 11 league institutions, Drake has posted a 45-30 ledger. Monday’s encounter with Illinois will mark the sixth time the two teams have squared off.
SENIORS SPARK 65-56 COMEBACK VICTORY OVER GREEN BAY
Led by 18 points from senior Lindsay Whorton (Independence, Mo./Truman) and the 41st career double-double by senior Jill Martin (Norwalk, Iowa/Norwalk), Drake erased a nine-point second-half deficit en route to a 65-56 victory over Green Bay in the first round of the Women’s NIT on Saturday (March 22).
In a game featuring big scoring streaks by both teams, it was the Bulldogs that survived a nine-minute six-second stretch midway through the affair in which they missed 15 of 16 attempts to prevail with the final run of the game. After the Phoenix took a 45-36 lead with 12:44 to go in the game, Drake rattled off 24 of the game’s next 30 points to own a 60-51 lead with under two minutes to play.
Fueling the surge with six points apiece was Whorton and junior Kelsey Keizer (Arnolds Park, Iowa/Okoboji).
Whorton capped a 9-0 run in that span that gave the Bulldogs their first lead of the second half connecting on a three-pointer with 7:21 remaining. Green Bay regained the lead on a jumper by Lavesa Glover but it proved to be short lived as Keizer put Drake ahead for good on a lay-up at the 6:07 mark.
Sophomore Jordann Plummer (St. Louis, Mo./Cardinal Ritter) gave Drake its biggest margin in the contest, 60-51, hitting a pair of free throws with 1:59 left.
Glover broke the Bulldogs’ run with a jumper and Celeste Hoewisch converted a lay-up to cut the deficit to five points, 60-55.
Drake sealed its first postseason victory since downing Baylor, 76-72, on March 17, 2002, in the NCAA Tournament, with a pair of made free throws from Whorton, Plummer and one off the hands of sophomore Monique’ Jones (Lee’s Summit, Mo./Lee’s Summit North).
Whorton paced the Bulldogs with an 18-point effort, with all of her points coming off three-pointers, as she shot 45.5 percent (5-of-11) beyond the arc.
Martin finished with 15 points, while snatching a game- and career-high 16 rebounds to post her 41st career double-double, including her league-leading 15th of the season.
Coming off the bench to spark the Bulldog comeback with season highs in points (12) and rebounds (8) was Keizer. Plummer added eight points, four assists and three steals, while junior Ashleigh Brady (Lubbock, Texas/Frenship) distributed a career- and game-best five assists against no turnovers.
Green Bay took an early lead in the first half, leading by as much as six and owning a 17-12 lead with 8:31 to go. That’s when Drake went on a 14-0 run, fueled by a trio of three pointers, one of which was part of a four-point play by Whorton.
After a basket by junior Lauren Dybing (Bloomington, Minn./St. Croix Lutheran) powered Drake to a 28-21 lead with 3:45 left in the first half, the Phoenix reeled off eight straight points capped by a Kati Harty lay-up to grab a 29-28 halftime lead.
Green Bay’s run continued into the second half, as Glover scored 12 of team’s first 14 points of the stanza as the team shot 8-of-11 out of the locker room. But as hot as the team was to start, the Drake defense rose up limiting the Phoenix to just 11 points over the final 12:44 of the game.
Green Bay finished the contest shooting 42.6 percent to Drake’s 34.4 percent, but the Bulldogs were 7-of-21 from long range. After connecting on 10 three-pointers in the team’s earlier meeting (Nov. 9), the Phoenix hit just one of seven three-point attempts.
The Bulldogs dominated the boards, outrebounding the Phoenix, 49-30, including 19-5 on the offensive glass.
IN OUR LAST MEETING
In the first round of the 1997 NCAA Tournament, Illinois posted a 79-62 victory over Drake on March 14, 1997 in Champaign, Ill. The Fighting Illini connected on 49.2 percent of their shots and limited the Bulldogs to a 35.0 percent shooting mark. Lisa Brinkmeyer led four Drake players in double figures with 15 points, while Tammi Blackstone, Kiersten Miller and Nicole McBean added 13, 13 and 10 points, respectively. Illinois outrebounded the Bulldogs, 48-34, including 32-20 on the defensive glass.
ONE YEAR AGO
The Bulldogs finished their 2006-07 campaign at 14-19 after 76-37 loss to eventual national champion Tennessee in the 2007 NCAA Tournament. Lindsay Whorton led the Bulldogs with nine points.
ON THIS DATE IN BULLDOG HISTORY
Drake encounters its first game ever on March 24 when the Bulldogs face Illinois on Monday.
DRAKE WNIT CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
The Bulldogs will play their 23rd tilt in Women’s National Invitation Tournament history when the squad laces it up versus Illinois. Drake maintains an 13-9 mark in the previous 22 encounters. In the series, the Bulldogs have gone 2-0 at home, 2-3 on the road and 9-6 on neutral floors. The 12 wins for Drake have come by an average of 10.0 points, while the team has fallen by an average margin of 11.2 tallies in their nine setbacks.
WNIT EXPERIENCE
Five players on the Drake roster entered play against Green Bay (March 22) having seen playing time in their careers in the WNIT, while an additional five got their first taste of it versus the Phoenix. Jill Martin leads the way for Drake having appeared in the tournament as a freshman in 2004, a junior in 2006 and this season. Joining Martin as having participated in the 2006 tilt at Nebraska are senior Brandy Dahir (Carrollton, Texas/Creekview), Lindsay Whorton, Ashleigh Brady and Jordann Plummer.
JONES AND MARTIN GARNER ALL-TOURNAMENT HONORS
Monique’ Jones and Jill Martin were both selected to the MVC All-Tournament team following Drake’s appearance in the title game on March 16. In three games, Jones averaged 12.3 points and 6.3 rebounds, while Martin pulled down team-highs in scoring (16.3) and rebounding (11.0). The pair connected on 48.1 and 48.7 percent of their attempts, respectively. Jones led Drake with four steals.
RECORD-SETTING NIGHT
Drake’s 46 points against Evansville (March 15) marked the second-lowest scoring total in a win in school history. It represented only the third time the Bulldogs have earned a victory when scoring in the 40’s. Drake downed Clarke, 42-33, on Nov. 21, 1976 and Central (Iowa), 48-46, on Dec. 11, 1975.
WHORTON NAMED SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Lindsay Whorton was selected as the Prairie Farms MVC Women’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year, becoming a first team selection for the third time.
An ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America first team women’s basketball team award winner in 2008, Whorton boasts a 4.00 grade point average with a double major in English and education.
Whorton has started all 33 games for Drake and is averaging 13.8 points and 4.1 rebounds per game.
DRAKE DUO PULLS IN ALL-MVC FIRST TEAM LAURELS
Drake continued to pull in the accolades after its first regular season Missouri Valley Conference title since 2001. The league announced on March 12 that Bulldogs Jill Martin and Lindsay Whorton were tabbed as 2008 All-MVC first team selections.
Martin became the fourth three-time recipient of first team honors in Drake history, joining Wanda Ford (1983, 84, 85), Jan Jensen (1989, 90, 91) and Carla Bennett (2000, 01, 02, 03). Whorton made the top squad for the first time after pulling in honorable mention laurels a year ago.
MARTIN EARNS FIRST TEAM ACADEMIC LAURELS
Jill Martin was tabbed a first team All-MVC scholar-athlete selection, joining teammate Lindsay Whorton.
Martin was named to the top squad for the first time after collecting second team laurels as a junior.
Having started all 33 games, Martin is leading the Bulldogs with a team- and league-high 17.0 points per game, while pulling down a team-best 9.2 rebounds. She maintains a 3.35 grade point average in elementary education.
SENIOR DAY FOR BULLDOG TRIO
Drake honored the accomplishments of its senior trio of Jill Martin, Lindsay Whorton and Brandy Dahir prior to its 72-66 win over Illinois State on March 2. The seniors have combined to appear in 337 games, including 319 starts. All three are 1,000-point scorers at Drake with Martin, Whorton and Dahir having recorded 1,918, 1,555 and 1,080 career points, respectively. The Bulldogs have gone 68-56 in the last four seasons, including a 45-20 mark at home.
WHORTON NAMED TO ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICA FIRST TEAM
Lindsay Whorton became just the third women’s basketball player in school history to be named a first team Academic All-America selection when she was tabbed to the five-player ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America squad on Feb. 26.
Joining Whorton as first team Academic All-America selections in the University Division were Delaney Conway of Portland State University, Jackie McFarland of the University of Colorado, Laura Rudolphi of Indiana State University and the 2008 Academic All-America of the Year, Candace Parker of Tennessee.
Whorton became only the third Bulldog to earn first team Academic All-America recognition, joining Jan Jensen (1990 & 1991) and Tricia Wakely (1996). Jensen was named national Academic All-America Player of the Year in 1991, while Wakely shared the honor in 1996.
THE NUMBER 17
Since the start of MVC play during the 1982-83 campaign, the 17-win plateau has been a good omen for the Bulldogs. In the span, Drake has now qualified for postseason play 12 times when registering at least 17 wins. Only twice (1988-89 & 1982-83) have the Bulldogs not received a postseason berth when winning at least 17 contests. Drake has qualified for the postseason four times under head coach Amy Stephens.
CLIMBING THE ALL-TIME MVC RECORDS LADDER
Jill Martin ranks among all-time MVC career leaders in rebounds (6th-1,007), field goals attempted (7th-1,552), free throws attempted (8th-562), points (8th-1,918) and free throws made (8th-425).
Lindsay Whorton ranks among all-time league leaders in three-pointers attempted (1st-793) and three-pointers made (3rd-265).
UPCOMING NUMBERS
Jill Martin became the fifth player in Drake history to post at least 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds when she pulled down her first rebound of the second half against Green Bay on Saturday (March 22) en route to registering a career-high 16 rebounds. She joins Lorri Bauman (3,115 points/1,050 rebounds), Wanda Ford (2,636 points/1,815 rebounds), Jan Krieger (1,846 points/1,214 rebounds) and Sharon Upshaw (2,513 points/1,675 rebounds) in the elite club.
Martin surpassed Stephanie Schmitz (1998-02) for second on the all-time games played list at Drake at 125 with her appearance versus Evansville on March 15, while Lindsay Whorton will play in her 125th career contest against Illinois, the second-best mark in school history.
Martin is one start from surpassing Stephanie Schmitz’s (1998-02) school record for career starts with 125. Martin has started 124 of 127 career games.
Whorton’s needs one three-pointers to surpass Jenni Lingor (Missouri State-2002-05) for third in MVC history (265).
Lauren Dybing is 14 points away from reaching the 500-point plateau for her Drake career. She enters play at Illinois with 486 career points.
With her second three-point attempt against Indiana State (March 14), Whorton surpassed Creighton’s Dayna Finch’s (2001-04) 766 career three-point attempts to become the all-time leader in the MVC in the category. Whorton will enter play versus Illinois having attempted 793 career triples.
Martin registered three steals and two assists against Evansville (March 15) to collect her 125th and 200th in her career, respectively.
Jordann Plummer cracked the 500-point plateau in her Drake career with a 14-point effort against Indiana State (March 14). She now has 520 career points.
BULLDOG FIRSTS
Drake faced a non-conference opponent for the second time in a season against Green Bay for the initial time since playing Texas twice during the 1983-84 campaign. The Bulldogs won the first meeting at home, 87-81, before falling 96-60 on the road in the NCAA Tournament.
Drake faced a non-conference opponent twice in a season at home against Green Bay for the first time since battling Iowa two times during the 1978-79 season.
The Bulldogs’ stifling defense surrendered a league-low 60.2 points per MVC game, while allowing the opposition to connect on just 37.6 percent.
The Bulldogs’ crowd of 5,023 versus SIU was the largest at home under Stephens and the eighth-best in Knapp Center history.
Drake’s five-game MVC home winning streak was the longest since the 2005-06 campaign when the Bulldogs won their final five home contests in league play.
Drake’s six-game home winning streak snapped by Evansville on Feb. 14 was the longest since taking 10 straight at the Knapp Center during the 2003-04 campaign.
The Bulldogs’ 55-52 win at SIU (Jan. 18) gave Drake its first 2-0 MVC road start since the 2001-02 season.
Drake’s 73-51 victory at Creighton (Jan. 12) marked the first win in a road MVC opener since posting a 68-62 triumph at Bradley on Dec. 29, 2005.
The Bulldogs opened their league slate at home for the first time since the 2002-03 campaign and the initial time under Stephens, and registered a 72-42 victory over Missouri State (Jan. 4).
Drake’s 37-point margin of victory (83-46) versus Wichita State was the largest in series history.
DRAKE WITH A WIN AGAINST ILLINOIS
Advances to the third round of the WNIT Tournament for the first time since downing New Mexico, 73-60, in the second round of the 1999 event.
Notches second postseason tournament victory under Stephens at Drake.
Defeats a Big Ten team for the first time since downing Michigan (61-60) on Nov. 30, 2005.
Collects first win in postseason tournament play against a school from the Big Ten since defeating Ohio State (90-79) on March 14, 1982, in the NCAA Tournament.
Wins 24 games for the first time since going 25-8 during the 2001-02 campaign.
Improves to 14-9 all-time in WNIT Tournament play.
Evens all-time mark versus the Fighting Illini at 3-3.
A LITTLE OFF THE WALL
Over the program’s 34-year history, the Bulldogs have posted a 168-71 mark (.703) against schools from Illinois.
When facing Illinois after a victory, the Bulldogs have posted a 2-2 mark.
Three of these meetings have come on even-numbered days, with Drake going 1-2.
The Bulldogs have not played a contest versus Illinois decided by five points or less.
The Bulldogs dropped their lone meeting against the Fighting Illini in the month of March, 79-62, on March 14, 1997.
The Blue and White are 16-5 in games played on even-numbered days this season and 7-5 in odd-numbered game dates.
Drake is 2-2 in its second round postseason tournament contest since the start of the 1982-83 campaign.
In home contests following a victory this season, the Bulldogs have registered a 7-2 ledger. In those tilts, Jill Martin averages 15.9 points and 8.0 rebounds, while Lindsay Whorton scores a team-best 16.7.
In the same scenario following a loss, Drake has posted a 6-0 mark. The Bulldogs outscore the opposition, by nearly 16 points per game (75.0-59.2), while Martin (14.7), Whorton (11.7) and Jordann Plummer (10.2) record double-figures in scoring.
In road contests following a victory this season, the Bulldogs have posted a 7-4 ledger. In those affairs, Martin averages 20.0 points and 9.8 rebounds, while Whorton is the lone other Drake player to average double-figures at 11.8 points. The Bulldogs own a 30.4-23.4 three-point shooting percentage advantage.
In the same scenario following a loss, Drake has posted a 2-2 mark. Scoring is nearly identical with the Bulldogs outscoring their opponents, 60.2-59.8 and Martin and Whorton average 15.3 and 14.5 points. Three-point shooting again favors the Blue and White, 34.2-23.1.
After going 7-3 in televised games a year ago, the Blue and White are 8-1 this season when on the tube, earning road victories at Milwaukee (Dec. 13) and SIU (Jan. 18), at home versus Missouri State (Jan. 4), Northern Iowa (Jan. 27), Creighton (Feb. 9), Southern Illinois (Feb. 16) and Illinois State (March 2) and on a neutral court versus Evansville (March 15). In the same span, the Bulldogs have posted six victories when on MVC TV.
The victory by Drake over Montana State gave the Bulldogs wins over teams from 16 states under Stephens. Drake has beaten squads from Illinois (16), Missouri (8), Indiana (7), Kansas (7), Nebraska (7), Iowa (5), California (3), Michigan (3), Ohio (2), Colorado (1), Oregon (1), South Dakota (1), Utah (1), Virginia (1) and Wisconsin (1).
Under Stephens, the Bulldogs are 48-36 in their next game after a victory and are 44-17 in the same scenario after Martin has led the team in scoring.
STREAK BUSTED
For only the third time in her career, Lindsay Whorton went consecutive games without hitting a three-pointer after failing to make one versus both Evansville (Feb. 14) and Southern Illinois (Feb. 16). She had made at least one triple in 38 consecutive contests prior to the contest against the Purple Aces. Her last game without a triple prior to these games was at Evansville on Jan. 18, 2007.
DEFENSE BE THY GAME
Defense has been the key to Drake’s success as it held MVC opponents under 60 points in nine games en route to a 13-5 mark. In that span, the Bulldogs connected on 44.6 percent of their shots, including a 29.4-27.8 percent advantage beyond the arc. Opponents shot 37.6 percent from the field, while averaging 37.4 rebounds, 10.7 assists, 7.2 steals and 15.4 turnovers per game.
IN THE NCAA RPI RANKINGS
Drake is No. 61 in the March 19 NCAA RPI rankings, the second-best mark among MVC schools, trailing Illinois State (No. 44). While the Bulldogs have played 11 games against top-100 opponents, Drake has gone 5-6 in those contests, with two victories coming over Creighton (Jan. 12 and Feb. 9) and the others versus Illinois State (March 2), Evansville (March 15) and Green Bay (March 22). The average RPI ranking of the Bulldogs’ opponents thus far this season has been 143.9.
MARCH HAS BEEN VERY GOOD TO BULLDOGS
The Bulldogs have made the most of March over the years, producing an 88-48 all-time record in the month. The Blue and White are 31-7 at home, 20-21 on the road and 38-19 at neutral sites.
THE QUEEN OF THE THREE
History was made at the 4:09 mark of the second half versus Bradley on Jan. 24 when Lindsay Whorton drained her second three-pointer of the affair to move into first place in school history with her 237th career triple. The three-pointer vaulted her past Julie Rittgers (1991-95), who recorded 236 during her distinguished Drake career. She stands as the active leader in the MVC in career triples (265) for both men’s and women’s basketball. Jeremy Crouch of Bradley is the men’s leader with 247.
COMPLETING THE COMEBACK
Having dubbed herself Drake’s “Super Senior”, Jill Martin has reestablished herself as arguably the premier player, in the MVC this season, despite being overlooked for conference player of the year accolades. A year after undergoing the second back surgery of her career, her play has continually turned heads as a three-time all-conference and a potential all-America candidate. Averaging team highs in scoring (17.0) and rebounding (9.2), she ranks among the MVC leaders in six categories. She has posted double-figures in scoring and rebounds 31 and 15 times, respectively this season. Her 15 double-doubles lead the MVC this year, while she is the active conference leader in career double-doubles with 41. She has cracked double-digits in scoring 107 times as a Bulldog and has played in 127 contests, including 124 starts. She is only the fifth Drake player to have posted at least 1,900 points and 1,000 rebounds. The Bulldogs are 27-9 over the past two seasons when she scores at least 10 points.
CHARTING RECORD-SETTING DRAKE TERRITORY
Drake has several players on pace or have cracked the top-10 single-season record book. Lauren Dybing has 53 blocks this season, needing one to pass Whitney Pegram (2003-04) for fifth place. Jill Martin’s 80.0 percent mark at the charity stripe is behind the 85.5 percent number set by Kay Riek (1981-82) and Kiersten Miller (1995-96). Lindsay Whorton has 70 three-pointers this season is four triples away from surpassing her own 2006-07 mark of 73 for fifth-place in Drake history.
AN OFFENSIVE REBOUNDING MACHINE
Monique’ Jones has provided Drake with a strong presence on the offensive boards, averaging 2.03 offensive caroms, the 14th-best mark in the MVC. In league-only affairs, the numbers rose to the 12th-highest mark (2.22) in the conference.
FEEDING THEIR TEAMMATES
Lindsay Whorton, Jordann Plummer and Jill Martin have made the most of their playing time recently, distributing 29, 28 and 23 assists, respectively in the last 10 games.
BEHIND THE SCENES WITH THE BULLDOGS
Drake was featured in the Jan. 22 edition of Iowa Sports Weekly on the Mediacom Connections channel as the show chronicled the Bulldogs behind the scenes during their trip to Creighton on Jan. 12. The show captured an all-encompassing look into life on the road for Drake and included interviews with players, coaches and support staff and offered a look into locker room strategy before and after the game.
EMERGING PATTERNS
Nine of Jill Martin’s league-best 15 double-doubles occurred in conference action, including three versus Evansville and two apiece against the Illinois State and Creighton.
Drake has made nearly as many free throws (489) as its opponents have attempted (490).
Martin has scored in double-figures in Drake’s last 21 games and has recorded double-digit rebounds in nine MVC games, including seven of the last 12.
Eight different Bulldogs have led Drake in assists this season.
Drake is 16-5 when Lauren Dybing leads the team in blocks.
In the last 10 games, the Bulldogs have made (144) nearly as many free throws as their opponents have attempted (155).
Martin has led the Bulldogs in points and rebounds in 14 games.
Dybing has rejected 27 shots in the last 10 contests.
Martin has averaged a team-best 10.5 caroms in the last five games.
Martin is shooting a team-best 54.5 percent from the field in the last five contests, while Kelsey Keizer has connected on 50.0 percent of her attempts.
Whorton and Plummer are distributing a 2.6 and 2.2 assists in the same span, while Lauren Dybing has recorded a team-best 10 blocks.
BY THE NUMBERS
When Drake fails to score at least 60 points this season, the Bulldogs are 3-4 and are shooting just 34.0 percent from the field, while turning the ball over more times (15.4) than their opponents (13.7).
In tilts when the Bulldogs score in the 60’s, Drake has posted a 5-4 mark, with Jill Martin leading two Bulldogs in double-figures at 18.0 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. Drake is shooting 40.0 percent in these contests, while committing more turnovers (13.8) than assists (11.1).
When the Bulldogs surpass the 70-point plateau, they have posted a 15-2 ledger and have tickled the twines at a .477 clip. Lauren Dybing, Jordann Plummer and freshman Kristin Turk (Des Moines, Iowa/Lincoln) are each shooting 50 percent or better from the field. Martin is shooting 47.8 percent from the floor and 32.8 percent beyond the arc, while averaging a team-best 17.1 points. The Bulldogs turn the ball over just 13.6 times, while distributing 15.8 assists.
TEAM TIDBITS
Drake has scored 80 or more points in five games this season. Prior to this year, the Bulldogs had gone over the 80-point plateau seven times under Stephens and never more than twice in any one season.
The Bulldog bench has outscored the opposition 24 times this season, with Drake going 18-6 in those games.
Jill Martin sits in seventh place in school history with 1,918 points - 13 points shy of surpassing Carla Bennett (1,930-1999-03) for fifth place in school scoring annals.
Lindsay Whorton is 14th in school history with 1,555 points, needing five points to supplant Julie Rittgers (1,559-1991-95) for 13th place.
Brandy Dahir has registered 1,080 career points, good for 19th in school history needing two points to move past Jody Busing (1975-79) for 18th place.
Martin is ranked among the top-10 in school history in rebounds (1,007), scoring (15.1) and rebounding averages (7.9), while Dahir is 10th in career field goal percentage (.511).
Kristin Turk and freshman Morgan Herrick (Cedarburg, Wis./Cedarburg) registered their first career baskets at Iowa (Nov. 13). Turk notched her first career points on a nifty steal and drive in the first half, while Herrick matched her with a jumper in the second half.
Freshman Katie DeWitt (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial) cracked the scoring column for the first time in her collegiate career with a first-half jumper against Missouri State (Jan. 4).
The 37-point margins of victory versus Wichita State (Jan. 6) and Sacramento State (Nov. 16) were the largest by a Stephens’ coached Drake team since defeating Western Illinois by 34 (79-45) on Nov. 12, 2006. They also stand as the fifth-largest scoring difference in school history.
The 89 points against Sacramento State were the most by a Stephens’ coached team in her five seasons, surpassing the 87 recorded in a 92-87 double-overtime setback to Indiana State on Jan. 26, 2006.
Jordann Plummer, Martin, Whorton and Dybing have accounted for Drake’s 15, 20-point games this season. Plummer cracked the 20-point plateau versus Green Bay (Nov. 9), Martin did so against Western Michigan (Nov. 24), Kansas (Nov. 23), Weber State (Nov. 18), UC Davis (Dec. 30), Illinois State (Jan. 31), Evansville (Feb. 14), Missouri State (March 6), Wichita State (March 8) and Evansville (March 15), Whorton accomplished the feat against Weber State (Nov. 18), UC Davis (Dec. 30), Missouri State (Jan. 4) and Illinois State (March 2), while Dybing posted a career-high 21 points versus Bradley (Jan. 24). A year ago, the Bulldogs garnered 22, 20-point performances, including 10 from Dahir, seven from Whorton, three by Martin and one courtesy of Ashleigh Brady and Kelsey Keizer.
The Bulldogs have finished with single-digit turnovers on seven occasions under Stephens.
CHARTING SOME TRENDS
The Bulldogs’ shooting in night games is ahead of their opponents in field goals (44.1-38.6), while three-pointers (29.4-29.4) and numbers at the charity stripe (71.3-74.2) are either tied or down. In afternoon affairs, the numbers are in favor of Drake in field goals (41.8-40.0) and beyond the arc (32.8-25.3), while free throw shooting is nearly identical (69.3-67.7).
Six Drake players (Martin, Dybing, Plummer, Jones, Keizer and Turk) are connecting on at least 40 percent of their attempts from the floor in afternoon games this season.
In the final five minutes of its 18 MVC games, Drake shot 46.5 percent from the floor, while holding its opponents to a 35.1 percent shooting mark.
In the same span, Lauren Dybing registered 11 blocks and is shooting a team-best 69.2 percent.
The return of Jill Martin has made a strong impact for the Bulldogs at the free throw line where Drake is shooting 70.2 percent (489-of-697) versus 65.3 percent (367-of-562) through 33 games a year ago. The Bulldogs average 21.1 attempts per contest at the stripe against only 17.0 at the same point last season. If you take Martin’s numbers out of the equation, Drake is shooting just 67.0 percent at the line.
Drake has recorded more assists (227) than turnovers (207) in the second stanza of its 33 games, while committing more turnovers (252) than assists (209) in the first half.
Plummer and Dybing are connecting on 62.5 percent (15-of-24) and 68.0 (17-of-25) of their shots in the last five minutes of contests this season, while Dybing has rejected 16 shots.
In the second half of games this season, Plummer has made 10-of-29 three-point attempts. Conversely, in the initial 20 minutes she is shooting just 26.9 percent (7-for-26).
Twenty-seven of Dybing’s team-high 53 blocks have come in the second half.
Martin didn’t attempt a free throw versus UC Davis, marking the first time in 13 games (Nov. 19, 2006 - Cal State Fullerton) she had not made a free throw. Additionally, it represented the first time since Jan. 6, 2005, versus Illinois State, a span of 33 games, that she had not attempted a charity toss.
Martin has been perfect at the line in 11 games (Green Bay (2), Sacramento State, Western Michigan, Montana State, Western Illinois, Iowa State, Southern Illinois, Illinois State, Indiana State and Evansville-2) this season.
The Bulldogs are shooting 43.6 percent from the field at home versus a .438 shooting mark on the road.
Making the most of clutch free throws this season has been Martin. In the final five minutes of games this season, she is shooting 80.8 percent. Martin has connected on 42 of her 52 attempts. From the field, Martin and Whorton have struggled, shooting a combined 38-of-99 from the floor (38.4 percent).
Whorton has collected 69 rebounds at home this year, all but 24 on the defensive glass. Conversely, Martin has pulled down 140 caroms, of which 122 have come on the defensive end.
Opponents shoot just 67.9 percent at the free throw line in the final five minutes against the Bulldogs this season.
Drake is registering 13.0 turnovers per contest at home and forcing opponents into an average of 17.1 a game.
Three of Drake’s current starters (Martin, Dybing and Jones are connecting on at least 40 percent of their attempts at home, while Martin, Dybing and Jones have done so on the road.
The Bulldogs average 38.7 rebounds at home, while registering 35.4 in their 12 road contests.
Martin is the Bulldogs’ leading scorer at home, averaging 15.4 points, with Whorton close behind at 14.8.
Drake has five players (Martin, Whorton, Brady, Brandy Dahir and Kaniesha Agee (Kansas City, Mo./Pembroke Hill)) with positive assist/turnover ratios at home. On the road, Whorton, Plummer, Dybing and Agee have at least as many assists as turnovers.
In the final five minutes of its 33 games, Drake is shooting 45.6 percent from the floor, with Martin netting 2.5 points per game.
The quartet of Martin, Whorton, Plummer and Agee have combined for 137 assists in 16 home games.
Martin is 60-for-78 at the charity stripe at home this year.
Dybing has hit 48.7 percent of her shots at home this season, while Plummer and Turk have hit on 49.5 and 46.9 percent, respectively.
The active career leader in blocked shots for the Bulldogs is Dybing with 83. This season, 24 of her team-leading 53 rejections have come at home.
Drake has outscored the opposition in the first half of its home games, 532-428. In the second stanza, the numbers still favor the Bulldogs, 619-524.
In its 12 true road games, Drake has bettered the opposition, 359-325, in the first 20 minutes of these contests, while winning the battle in the second half, 398-386.
Turk is connecting on a team-best 51.1 percent in the first half.
Martin is shooting 34.8 percent (23-of-66) beyond the arc in the first half of games this year, while hitting 28.2 percent (11-for-39) in the final stanza.
The Bulldogs are connecting on 44.8 percent of their shots in the second half, versus a 41.3 percent shooting mark in the initial 20 minutes.
Agee has distributed 33 assists versus only 13 turnovers in the final 20 minutes of games this season. She committed only six second-half turnovers in league play, including only four in the last 16 games.
Eighteen of Whorton’s 37 steals have come in the first half, while Martin has collected 38 of her 61 assists in the final period.
The Bulldogs are averaging 6.3 turnovers in the last 20 minutes, while forcing the opposition into 7.2. In the first stanza, Drake has registered 7.6 turnovers and forced 8.1.
The Bulldogs are outrebounding the opposition on the offensive glass in the first half, 197-187, while bettering their opponents on defensive rebounds, 426-388.
Drake’s starters are registering 50.8 points and 25.0 rebounds per game through 33 contests, while the bench has responded with 17.1 points and 12.7 rebounds.
The Bulldog bench is outshooting the opposition beyond the arc this season, 34.3-20.4 percent.
NATIONALLY SPEAKING
Jill Martin is ranked 44th and 61st nationally in rebounding (9.2) and scoring (17.0), while Dybing is 65th in blocks (1.6).
As a team, Drake is rated 18th, 37th and 53rd in the NCAA in turnovers per game (14.0), assist/turnover ratio (0.95) and field goal percentage (.429).
UP NEXT
A victory sends Drake to a third-round date with the winner of the Creighton/Marquette game later this week, while a loss will draw to a close the Bulldogs’ campaign.
