Katie Dinnebier

EVANSVILLE, Ind. — Drake’s quest for a third-straight berth into the Women’s NCAA Tournament was halted in the highest-scoring game in the history of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament as top-seeded Murray State rode a torrid start to a 96-90 victory over the fourth-seeded Bulldogs in Saturday’s semifinals.

Drake (22-11), getting a career-high 45 points from Katie Dinnebier, closed with a rush after trailing by 24. It was too much ground to make up against the nation’s highest-scoring team.

Murray State (24-7), in its third year in the Valley, defeated Belmont in Sunday’s championship game, 83-62.

The 186 combined points were the most ever scored in MVC tourney play, easily topping the old mark of 179. Dinnebier’s 45 points, including 29 in the second half, put her at No. 3 on the tournament’s single-game scoring list behind only Missouri State’s Jackie Stiles, who had games of 56 and 47. Dinnebier has named been the MVC’s Jackie Stiles Player of the Year the past two seasons.

Murray State was led by Katelyn Young, who scored 30 points. She had plenty of backing as Ava Learn, Halli Poock and Haven Ford each scored 18 points for the Racers, who shot 71 percent in a 35-point first quarter that left the Bulldogs scrambling to catch up.

The Bulldogs almost did. Dinnebier scored 11 points in an 18-6 run that pulled Drake to within 94-90 after a three-point play with 9.2 seconds left. Drake fouled immediately, Ford sank two free throws and the Bulldogs never got off another shot.

Abbie Aalsma added 12 points for Drake, which shot 51 percent in the second half to make it a game. Anna Miller scored eight points and Courtney Becker had seven points and nine rebounds. Shannon Fornshell and Ava Hawthorne also scored seven for the Bulldogs.

“What an amazing, hard-fought game,” said Drake head coach Allison Pohlman. “We dug ourselves a hole in the first quarter and would have that back because our second half was indicative of the heart these women have. [I’m] really proud of our entire team and proud to be a part of Drake University.”

Missouri Valley Conference Tournament

At Ford Center, Evansville, Ind.

First Round

Thursday, March 13

Bradley 64, Valparaiso 58

Illinois St. 88, Southern Illinois 48

Illinois-Chicago 72, Evansville 62

UNI 87, Indiana St. 73

Quarterfinals

Friday, March 14

Murray St. 86, Bradley 50

Drake 75, Illinois St. 69

Missouri St. 77, Illinois-Chicago 70

Belmont 64, UNI 46

Semifinals

Saturday, March 15

Murray St. 96, Drake 90

Belmont 76, Missouri St. 67

Championship

Sunday, March 16

Missouri St. 83, Belmont 62