DES MOINES, IOWA – The University of Evansville women's basketball team scored a season-high 82 points on Friday night, but came up short at Drake by a score of 97-82. Five different Aces scored in double figures, a season best.

Freshmen Georgia Ferguson (Waterloo, Ontario/Cairine Wilson Secondary School) and BreAunna Ward (St. Louis, Mo./John Burroughs School) recorded career-highs with 17 and 12 points, respectively. Fellow freshman Sydney Huber (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Mount Vernon) stayed hot with 14 points, including 4 three-point field goals, while Georgia Cox (Ballarat, Australia/Eastern Illinois) added a season-high 12 points and Camryn Runner (Cicero, Ind./Hamilton Heights) contributed 12 as well while dishing out seven assists.

Drake jumped on Evansville early, opening a 14-2 lead in the first quarter. The Purple Aces cut it back down to eight at the 2:07 mark, but another torrid shooting stretch by the Bulldogs helped them take a 25-12 advantage at the end of the opening period.

In the second quarter, Drake continued to have their way offensively, extending their lead to 22 before ending the half with a 51-32 lead. Ward led the Aces in the first half with 11 points.

Coming out of the half, the Aces fought back, with Ferguson knocking down a jumper and converting an and-one opportunity on back-to-back possessions. Evansville continued to chip away, cutting the Bulldog lead to 12 at the 4:02 mark. However, Drake responded with a strong finish to the quarter, reclaiming a 17-point lead going into the fourth quarter.

Evansville showed resiliency once again in the final period, as a pair of triples by Huber helped the Aces bring it within 10 points with 6:59 remaining. Elle Snyder (Latrobe, Pa./Greater Latrobe) added a three of her own to cut it to nine, but that is as close as the Aces would get, as Drake closed out a 97-82 win.

Evansville remains in Iowa to take on Northern Iowa on Sunday. Tip-off is set for 2 PM.