Tommy Birch | Des Moines Register

As Indiana State was coming out of a timeout in the fourth quarter of the team’s Feb. 14 game against Drake women’s basketball, Sycamores coach Marc Mitchell signaled to Bulldogs coach Allison Pohlman.

Mitchell had just seen the teams go through a fiery third quarter and recommended they finish the game without shaking hands afterward.

Pohlman agreed.

Drake ended a five-game losing streak by beating Indiana State, 88-70, at the Knapp Center on Saturday, Feb 14. As Mitchell wished, the two teams retreated to their locker rooms after the game without going through the traditional handshake line, ending a tense and emotional game that had one player and one fan ejected.

“I have so much respect for coach Mitchell,” Pohlman said after the game. “I think he’s doing a great job. For him to understand, be aware to be able to say that, of course, I’m going to respect his wishes…I think it’s the right thing for us to be able to do to diffuse as much as we could. I think it worked out well.”

It all came after an emotional third quarter when Indiana State guard Da’Naria Washington was whistled for two flagrant fouls. The first came on a hard foul on with just under six minutes to play in the third quarter as she was trying get a rebound. The second came after Washington sprinted into a crowd of players, trying to battle on the ground for a loose ball.

Washington had to leave the bench and was walked back to the locker room. Shortly after, Mitchell got angry with a fan sitting courtside. The fan briefly left his seat to be questioned by Drake security for improper conduct. When the fan returned, Mitchell told officials he would take his team off the court until the spectator left. Security took the fan away.

“I don’t know what the fan said, but it was offensive enough,” Mitchell said.

The drama didn’t end there. Drake’s Brooklin Dailey and Indiana State’s Samiyah Briggs were later whistled for technical fouls. In total, 43 fouls were assessed. After the game, Mitchell maintained he wasn’t unhappy with anyone from Drake.

“I have nothing but respect for coach Allison,” Mitchell said. “This has nothing to do with her or the Bulldog players. We had to keep our composure through all the bad calls. And we didn’t.”

Pohlman was understanding of the competitive nature of the game. She praised her staff for keeping her team on track during all the stoppages in play.

“I think what you saw is a bunch of competitors,” Pohlman said. “This season, it does get long.”

Here are five numbers that stood out from Drake’s win over Indiana State

5….as in the 5-game losing streak Drake endured

It has been a rough season for the Bulldogs. They endured an eight game losing streak earlier this season before picking up some momentum at the start of MVC play. But it went through another difficult stretch with five consecutive losses. Before Saturday’s victory, Drake hadn’t picked up a win since a 97-82 win over Evansville back on Jan. 23. Saturday’s victory moved the Bulldogs to 7-17 on the season and 6-8 in Missouri Valley play.

8…as in 8 available players for Indiana State by the end of the game

Indiana State arrived in Des Moines with just nine players available. The Sycamores, who typically don’t travel with a big roster, were also without injured point guard Kennedy Claybrooks. The roster took another big hit when Washington was ejected from the game.

9…as in 9% shooting for Indiana State in the first quarter

The start of the game couldn’t have gone much worse for Indiana State after connecting on just 9% (2-for-22) of its shots in the first quarter. The Sycamores missed their first 16 field goal attempts and didn’t get their bucket from the field until 7 minutes and 14 seconds into the game. They also missed all seven of their shots from beyond the arc. The Sycamores had more turnovers (four) in the first quarter than field goals (two).

19…as in 19 points for Drake’s Abbie Aalsma

Despite being one of Drake’s biggest contributors this season, Aalsma has struggled lately, averaging just 6.75 points per game in the team’s last four contests. She broke free from her issues Saturday, tallying a game-high 19 points in the win.

Aalsma, the first to reach double digits in scoring, connected on 7-of-14 shots from the field. She had Drake’s first nine points of the third quarter and gave the Bulldogs a 51-29 lead at one point.

100….as in 100 career victories for Pohlman

The victory was the 100^th of Pohlman’s coaching career. The fourth-year Bulldog coach has compiled a 100-59 mark during her time with Drake. It’s another major honor for Pohlman after already guiding the team to two MVC Tournament titles and a pair of trips to the NCAA Tournament.  

Drake Women’s Basketball Notes

• Drake, which snapped a 5-game losing streak, moved to 7-17 overall including a 6-8 record in the Missouri Valley Conference.
• All six of Drake’s league wins have been by double figures.
• The Bulldogs improved to 3-9 at home
• Allison Pohlman became the fifth coach in Drake history to record 100 victories joining Carole Baumgarten (1974-86, 257 wins), Lisa Bluder (1991-2000, 188), Amy Stephens (2003-12, 151) and Jennie Baranczyk (2012-21, 192)
• Drake shot 46.8 percent (29-62) including 56.7 percent (17-30) in the second half
• There was one tie and one lead change in the game.
• Indiana State missed its first 16 shots to start the game before Jayci Allen broke the drought with a basket with 2:46 left in the first quarter 
• Drake limited Indiana State to eight points in the first quarter while enjoying a 19-8 lead. That was the fewest points scored by a Drake opponent in the first quarter this season.
• Drake owned a 39-27 lead at halftime – the most points the Bulldogs had scored over their last five games since scoring 41 in the first half of home game vs. Murray State Jan. 11
• Drake improved to 6-1 when leading at halftime.
• Drake matched a season high with 50 rebounds, outrebounding the Sycamores, 50-45.
• Drake made a season high 13 three-point baskets, marking the third game the Bulldogs have made 10 or more three-pointers
• Drake made eight of 16 shots beyond the three-point arc in the second half.
• Senior Abbie Aalsma led Drake with 19 points as the Bulldogs improved to 6-3 when she scores 19 or more points in a game.
• Sophomore Grace Knutson added 17 points, making a career high five three-point baskets (seven attempts).
• Freshman Anna Becker chipped in with 14 points, including eight in the first half.
• Sophomore transfer Lexi Carlsen had 10 points, tying a season high with three three-point baskets. 
• Aalsma broke out of a cold shooting spell beyond the 3-point arch by making two of seven shots. She had missed 21 straight three-point shots covering five games before ending the drought.
• Aalsma scored the first nine points to open the second half for Drake
• Junior Brooklin Dailey, making her second straight start of the season, led Drake with a career-high 12 rebounds after collecting just one rebound in the previous game at Indiana State Dec. 17.
• Senior Ava Hawthorne tied season high with four steals
  Drake, winning its eighth straight game against Indiana State, leads the all-time series 69-24 including a 39-6 mark in games played in Des Moines.
• This marked the Bulldogs third straight victory against Indiana State in the Knapp Center.

Up Next

Drake continues its home stand against Valparaiso at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 19, then hosts UIC on Sunday, Feb. 22 a 2 p.m. as the regular season starts winding down.