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DES MOINES, Iowa—University of Evansville junior forward Robyn Jennings’ nickname is “Big Shot Rob.” She lived up to that nickname on Thursday night, as she hit a key three-pointer with 1:36 remaining in overtime to give UE a lead it would never lose en route to a 69-66 UE overtime victory over the Drake University Bulldogs at the Knapp Center in Des Moines, Iowa.
Jennings, who was held to just two points in the first half, exploded for 13 of her team-high 15 points in the second half and overtime to power Evansville to its school record-tying 10th victory in a row. No shot was bigger for Jennings though than her three-pointer from the right corner in overtime to give UE a 66-63 cushion.
“I was so proud of Robyn tonight,” said UE head coach Tricia Cullop. “She didn’t shoot the ball her best tonight in the first half, but she didn’t let that get her down, and she stepped up time after time in the second half and overtime to hit big shot after big shot.”
“On the three-pointer, I just have to credit my teammates because I was able to find an open hole in the Drake defense,” said Jennings. “I found myself open and was just able to knock it down, but it was my teammates who spread out the defense and allowed me to hit that shot.”
After Jennings’ three-pointer, Drake’s Ashleigh Brady would hit one of two free throws on the Bulldogs’ next trip down the floor to trim the lead to 66-64 with 1:18 remaining. UE senior guard Rebekah Parker would answer with a lay-up in the lane with 1:01 to play to give the Purple Aces a 68-64 lead, and Drake would not get back within three points the rest of the way.
Jennings and senior guard Courtney Felke paced a pack of four Purple Aces in double-figures with 15 points each, while Parker recorded her second career double-double with 14 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Sophomore guard Amy Gallagher also reached double-figures with 10 points off of the bench for UE.
Senior center Jill Martin led the Bulldogs with 22 points and 11 rebounds in her 10th double-double of the season. Brady also added 10 points off of the bench for the Bulldogs.
With the victory, Evansville extends its winning streak to a school-record 10 games and improves to 16-7 overall and 10-2 in the Missouri Valley Conference for the first time in school history. Drake, meanwhile, slips to 14-8 overall and 7-4 in the Valley. Evansville will return to action next on Sunday afternoon, as the Purple Aces will head to Omaha, Nebraska to battle the Creighton University Bluejays. Tip-off is set for 12:05 p.m. and Sunday’s game can be heard live in the Tri-State area on 91.5 F.M.-WUEV.
