In a rematch between two top teams in the Missouri Valley Conference, the Drake Bulldogs came out on top 88-83 against the Belmont Bruins.
Belmont came into Saturday’s game looking to rebound after a one-sided loss to the University of Northern Iowa Panthers Thursday night, a game that snapped the team’s 10-game win streak.
Drake opened with a strong showing seemingly ready to flip the script from January.
The Bulldogs carved out an early lead with 11 first-quarter points on multiple three-pointers from senior guard Katie Dinnebier.
Dinnebier finished with a career-high 42 points.
The Bulldogs were aggressive on the boards, bringing down 16 rebounds in the first quarter alone and 42 rebounds on the night, outpacing Belmont’s 27 total rebounds.
The team learned from the Panthers’ lesson and sent extra coverage early to focus on senior forward Kendal Cheeseman, who had 30 points Friday and 65 points in the last three games.
“We obviously didn’t come out of the gate ready to play. We prepared, and every game we come in wanting to win. It just wasn’t Belmont basketball,” said Cheeseman.
Belmont wouldn’t be able to get much going offensively early apart from eight first-quarter points including a buzzer-beating three-pointer from junior guard Emily La Chappell to bring the game within 10.
But the Bulldogs just kept scoring.
At one point Drake built up a 19-point lead and the game seemed out of hand for the Bruins.
“I thought they came out hungry and aggressive. And for whatever reason even after our performance on Thursday, we didn’t and that’s frustrating for me,” said head coach Bart Brooks. “I’m proud of the effort it took to get back in the game, but anytime you dig a hole that deep against a really good team, it exhausts you.”
Every basket from the Bruins was seemingly met with a basket from the Bulldogs.
But then Belmont showcased why it’s still in contention for the top of the MVC.
Four straight buckets from its starters brought the Belmont crowd to its feet and the team within seven going into halftime.
Coming out of the break the Bruins kept the charge going, defending with more energy and forcing eight turnovers in the half.
Belmont’s reigning MVC player of the week caught fire from deep in the fourth quarter.
3-point make after 3-point make, Cheeseman couldn’t be stopped, hitting five 3-pointers in the quarter and bringing the game within three.
She’d finish as the Bruins’ leading scorer once again with 19 points on the night and 12 rebounds for her sixth double-double of the season.
But the offensive firepower of Drake would eventually prove to be too much.
Scoring at will with several drives to the basket and a barrage of threes from Dinnebier, Drake would escape with the win.
“We know whatever happens right now is not going to make or break our season, and I think that’s something we talk about all the time,” said Brooks.
The Bruins are now 11-3 and tied for second in the MVC and will head on the road to face the Illinois State Redbirds on Thursday.
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This article was written by Braden Simmons.
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