DES MOINES — The Drake University women’s basketball team hit Minnesota with a barrage of 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and pulled away to a 77-63 victory at the Knapp Center on Thursday afternoon to close out the nonconference portion of its schedule with an impressive win.

The Bulldogs (8-3) bounced back from a disappointing performance in a loss at Nebraska on Sunday with a 48-point second half that featured the type of play Drake fans have become accustomed to seeing — crisp passes that found open shooters or led to layups and sharp shooting.

Ahead just 29-27 at halftime, Drake shot 73.9 percent in the second half (17-of-23), including a sizzling 8-for-10 effort in the third quarter. That carried the Bulldogs to 48.3 percent for the game (29-of-60) and they had assists on 24 of those baskets.

Drake was clinging to 53-51 lead when the 3-pointers began raining in. The Bulldogs made six straight from behind the arc in a 5-minute stretch to blow out to a 77-58 lead.

Drake, which has won seven of its last eight, opens Missouri Valley Conference play against Indiana State at the Knapp Center on Thursday, Dec. 30. The 8-3 record is the Bulldogs’ best mark in nonconference play since the 1994-95 team went 8-0 en route to a 13-0 start.