Carla Bennett continued her career-long domination of Illinois State with 25 points and 10 rebounds, leading Drake past Illinois State 65-46 in a Missouri Valley Conference basketball game Thursday at the Drake Knapp Center.
The Redbirds, 7-18, 5-11 in the Valley, saw an end to their four-game road winning streak, the longest in 13 years at Illinois State. Jaci McCormack led the Redbirds with 12 points and Sharon Blade added 11. McCormack made a pair of three-point shots in the first half, bringing her into a tie for No. 7 on the Illinois State career three-point field goal list with 57. She is tied with teammate Stacey White.
Illinois State shot just 29 percent from the field in the first half as Drake built a 17-point lead. The Redbirds were able to trim that to 13 in the first six minutes of the second half with better defense as the Bulldogs made just one of their first nine field goals after intermission.
Bennett, who has averaged 22 points per game against the Redbirds in eight games against them, had her fourth double-double against Illinois State.
The Redbirds played better defense in the second half, limiting Drake to 9-22 field goals and forcing 22 total turnovers in the game. But the Birds shot just 36 percent for the game themselves.
The Bulldogs, 14-10, 9-6 in the Valley, extended its current winning streak over Illinois State to 13 in a row overall, nine in a row in Des Moines. Drake dominated the rebounding statistics with a 35-26 edge. Maureen Head backed Bennetts play with 12 points and Mandy Kappel had 10.
Driving shots by Katie Donovan and Blade gave ISU a 4-2 lead in the first two minutes, but the Redbirds went 0-7 from the field after that as Drake went on an 13-0 run to take a 15-4 lead. ISU closed to within 27-19 on Blades basket with 3:51 left in the half, but Nicole Denmon hit a three-pointer and Maureen Head scored three straight baskets and Drake was up 17, the Bulldog halftime lead.
Redbird coach Jenny Yopp will be happy when Bennett, a senior, finishes her career.
Drake played like a team trying to win a championship, said Yopp. Bennett and Head are a super combination inside. Im looking forward to seeing Carla Bennett in street clothes after this season. I hope she leads her team deep into the NCAA Tournament, but she has had some super performances against us.
The Redbirds play Saturday against Creighton at 3 p.m. at Bellevue West High School.
