CHARLESTON, Ill. – Drake women’s basketball began its 2025-26 slate on Monday afternoon. The Bulldogs took on Eastern Illinois in the Panthers’ annual Kids’ Day game with over 2,000 area elementary students in attendance. Drake settled in after a jittery first quarter to eventually roll over EIU, 83-65.

The Panthers won the opening tip thanks to the length of 6-foot, 10-inch center Abbie Boutilier, who had minimal impact the rest of the way. EIU, behind a 5-of-8 start from the field was able to build an early 13-8 lead at the first media timeout. Drake then ripped off a 5-0 run out of the break to take its first lead of the game at 16-15, but the Panthers answered with a spurt of their own to retake control in a back-and-forth first period.

Drake had a chance to jump back in front at the first quarter horn, but a contested Grace Knutson deuce rimmed off. EIU led 20-19 after the first period.

Ava Hawthorne notched the first tally of the second quarter at the free throw line, promptly drawing Drake even on the scoreboard. The Bulldog offense continued to click through much of the second period as Drake eventually built its largest lead of the first half on an Abbie Aalsma 3-pointer, making it 36-30 in favor of the visitors.

Suzie Glazer Burt Head Coach Allison Pohlman maneuvered a little foul toward the end of the second stanza as Hawthorne and starting forward Maggie Taylor were each flagged for two personal fouls.

Drake managed the final stages of the first half well as the Dogs went into the half leading 39-34. Aalsma and Anna Becker were both in double figures at the break with 14 points and 12 points, respectively.

The Bulldog momentum continued into the third quarter as Drake’s defense started to show its teeth. Drake extended its lead into double digits at 47-37 after a Grace Knutson fadeaway through contact and a deep trey from freshman forward Quinn Vice.

Drake’s lead reached 14 points at the end of the third quarter as a Shannon Fornshell triple made it 60-46 in the Bulldogs’ direction.

The Bulldogs continued to roll in the final frame as two more players, Taylor and Knutson got into double digits. Eastern Illinois did its best to fight back, getting the deficit down under 15 points with just over two minutes remaining, but the hill was too steep to climb as Drake stuck to its game down the stretch.

Drake wrapped things up for an 83-65 victory, marking its 11th straight win in season-opening contests . The result also snapped a 7-game winning streak for EIU in their own season-openers with the last Panther debut loss coming to Northern Illinois, then coached by current Drake assistant Lisa Carlsen.

“We just rose to the occasion today,” Pohlman said after the game. “It took us a little bit to get warmed up but I loved what we did in the first quarter…we had to make some adjustments and figure out our advantages. Really proud of our response. Second and third quarters our defense was on point. We gave up a couple offensive rebounds and open threes in the fourth, so need to work on playing with a lead, but really rock-solid effort today.”

Abbie Aalsma and Anna Becker each scored 22 points to lead all players. Grace Knutson added 14 and Maggie Taylor chipped in with 11. Scoring totals for Aalsma, Knutson, and Taylor were all career highs. Becker’s effort marked the first 20-plus scoring outing for a Bulldog since Katie Dinnebier’s rookie season.

Taylor also corralled a career best 16 rebounds as Drake dominated the glass, 50-26. Ava Hawthorne dished out seven assists to lead the Bulldog distributors.

The Bulldogs will be back in action at home for their next matchup. Drake will welcome Creighton to the Knapp Center on Sunday, Nov. 9 for a 4 p.m. tip.