The season is finally here. Drake opens with three games against NCAA Tournament teams from last season. Opener is Friday night at home against South Dakota State. Game starts at 6:00 PM CT on ESPN+. As of earlier today less than 500 tickets remained in the lower bowl so looking like a great opening night crowd in store.

In other openers, Missouri State scored a big day 1 upset win over #23 Minnesota. The question on if they would continue last year's momentum with a new coach may have already been answered.

My old Pappy always said ,one game does not a season or a coaching carrier make.Just food for thought.

WBballFAN

Missouri St will have a couple non-conference games to show the NCAA how good they are this year.  They get Mizzou at home, and will travel to South Dakota and Gonzaga.  Plus, that victory over the Gophers was in the first round of the WNIT.  Next round, they will probably play Boise State who won the Mountain West last year, and hopefully get to play DePaul and/or PAC-12 power Oregon State.

Bracketology has two teams in the Valley, Drake at #10 and Missouri State 11. 
The rest of the WNIT field... Minnesota a 4 SEED, Boise State a 13 SEED, Oregon St. a 2 SEED, Gonzaga a 9 SEED, DePaul a 5 SEED. 

Bulldogs win tonight against SDSU.
Started out strong, tallied off a little bit in Q2, let them get back into it in Q3, pulled out the W in Q4.

Several positives particularly on the defensive side of the ball.
I don't know if it was just me but the Knapp Center temperature seemed cold and so was shooting. Free throw shooting in particular was concerning but we made them at the end when it counted the most.

Valley women go 5-0 tonight, but nothing near as impressive as our win against a Sweet 16 team from last season.
Iowa State Sunday.

 I was warm watching in Los Angeles on my computer. Good win against a solid program!  I like that Coach gets everybody some minutes.  Collier has some quick hands on the defensive end.  Plenty to learn from tonight's game.  Congrats!

 I was warm watching in Los Angeles on my computer. Good win against a solid program!  I like that Coach gets everybody some minutes.  Collier has some quick hands on the defensive end.  Plenty to learn from tonight's game.  Congrats!

SDSU postgame articles... 
SDSU Women Lose at Drake 
Sara Rhine, Becca Hittner key Drake women in win against visiting South Dakota State 
Drake Women’s Basketball Wins Fifth-Straight Season Opener with 74-67 Victory over South Dakota State
Jackrabbits fall to Drake in season opener 

Iowa State pregame articles...
Cyclones aim for consistent offense ahead of Drake 
Iowa State Travels To Drake Sunday 
Enter to Win Tickets to Drake Women’s Basketball vs Iowa State!

Bulldogs almost let a 17 point lead slip away, but hang on for an 86-81 victory over Iowa State.

Drake got no help from the officials.

Collier appears to be a nice addition.

When will Grace Berg be eligible to play?   Is there a wait for an NCAA decision?

BAN THE BALL SCREEN!!! BAN THE BALL SCREEN!! BAN THE BALL SCREEN!!

She should be eligible for the start of the second semester.

Looks as if our coach needs to step up and show more displeasure in how the refs are treating her team!! Maybe we need to start a movement to get the refs  miced up so everyone could here there talks with the coaches to stop any hanky panky!

WBballFAN

They better tighten up that zone, especially on the interior. S. Dak. St. and Ia. St., both exploited it for easy layups and 5 footers. It was also slow getting to the wing shooter. These were the reasons that they blew a 17 point lead. 
They are living by the 3. I hope that it doesn't come to be in a big game, but, as they say, live by the 3 and die by the 3.

There was an appeal to the NCAA in the off season but so far no decision has been rendered. If you follow college basketball you know they made a decision on eligibility of the number 1 men's recruit 3 hours before game time so they don't move fast. If the appeal is accepted she could play immediately. If the appeal is denied she would be eligible starting with the Oklahoma game which is the first game after fall semester ends. Personally I'm not optimistic the appeal will be accepted.

Does anyone know if there will be a watch party for the South Dakota game ,looks like the drive over may be rough.

WBballFAN

Typically if there's a party it would be at Rookies. The men are also playing at the same time though.

Last minute TV change for tonight, game now on ESPN+

This game will sting for awhile

Drake loses to USD 102-94 in overtime. Sadly Drake not only blew a 17 point Q3 lead but they also mishandled an inbound at the end of regulation which led to the tying basket for USD and the overtime period.

Sadly missed opportunity for what will probably be a quadrant 1 team come March. Learn from it and get better, it's all you can do.

Good effort!  Even with Becca struggling, offensively, Drake is getting points.  Got to figure out on how to communicate and play as a team defensively, especially in the zone.  Giving up 20 points in a five minute overtime speaks volume.  

Just a thought but if the coach taught them to be a little tougher and not call them off when they get a lead maybe they wouldn't give up points at the end and lose?

WBballFAN