Valley Women Staring Down the ‘Power 5’s’

Belmont & Drake With Big wins

(St. Louis, MO) – Missouri Valley Conference teams are staring down the ‘power 5’s’. After near misses by Belmont, Illinois Chicago and Murray State during the season’s first week, Belmont and Drake took down power 5 or ‘money conference’ teams in recent days.

Belmont’s win over Georgia was its third Southeastern Conference win in the past four seasons and this one wasn’t close. The Bruins defeated the Bulldogs 76-50 as Kendal Cheesman scored a career- high 28 points and Tessa Miller recorded a double-double.

Georgia was ‘receiving votes’ in the national polls prior to their Curb Event Center humbling. Belmont’s ‘money conference’ win was its twenty-first against 45 all-time losses. Head coach Bart Brooks is now 4-9 against the SEC.

Belmont newcomer Jailyn Banks is the Valley’s ‘Freshman of the Week’ for scoring 23 points against Missouri and nine more against the Bulldogs.

Belmont (1-1) is the reigning co-MVC champion (Illinois State) and the Bruins host Wichita State on Wednesday.

Drake Staring Down Iowa State

During a big Sunday for women’s basketball in the State of Iowa, Drake defeated Iowa State 85-73. A sold out McCleod Center crowd saw Northern Iowa drop a decision to Iowa.

The Bulldogs were sparked by Taylor McAulay’s career-high 27 points and twenty-point performances by Grace Berg (22) and Katie Dinnebier (20). Drake (3-0) entered the season ranked 13^th on the ‘Women’s Mid Major Top 25’ and UNI was tenth and Belmont was number 20.

Berg, a third-team, all conference player last season was named to the preseason, all-Valley squad. The graduate student is this league’s opening week ‘Player of the Week’. Berg’s final point Sunday, brought her career total to 1,300.

Drake’s defeat of the Big Twelve team runs its record against the Cyclones to 30-32. They will battle third-ranked Iowa on Sunday.

Valley teams have won two of seven games against ‘power five’ conference teams. Near misses came when Belmont lost by eleven at Missouri, UIC dropped a six-point game at Northwestern and Murray State lost by three to Arkansas.

Valley teams will be staring down ‘money conference’ teams four times this week. Murray State travels to Indiana to take on the 18^th ranked Hoosiers on Friday and prior to Drake’s Sunday night game at Iowa, Evansville will face Michigan State and Belmont hosts Mississippi State.

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Editor: Cover photo courtesy of godrakebulldogs.com.