Drake guard Nicole Miller fights for the ball with Northern Iowa guard Madison Weekly, left, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Friday, Feb. 24, 2017, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
The Associated Press
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Lizzy Wendell scored 21 points and No. 21 Drake defeated Northern Iowa 70-57 on Friday night and clinched outright the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season championship.
The Bulldogs (23-4, 16-0) won their 17th straight game to break the school record they shared with the 1996-97 team. The outright conference title, coming with two games remaining for the Bulldogs, is the first for Drake since the 1999-2000 season.
Drake took an 88-79 double-overtime victory at UNI on Jan. 27 but had an easier time Friday against the second-place Panthers (20-7, 13-3), using a 13-2 run, with nine points from Wendell, to lead by 13, 47-34, after three quarters. The lead stayed in double figures in the final quarter.
Becca Hittner added 12 points for Drake, which shot 52 percent. Sammie Bachrodt and Becca Jonas scored 10 points each. Caitlin Ingle had eight assists with nine points.
Madison Weekly scored 19 points to lead UNI, which shot 28 percent.
Drake guard Caitlin Ingle, right, grabs a rebound in front of Northern Iowa guard Kennedy Kirkpatrick (23) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Friday, Feb. 24, 2017, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
The Associated Press
Drake guard Becca Hittner tries to steal the ball from Northern Iowa forward Taylor Hagen (34) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Friday, Feb. 24, 2017, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
The Associated Press
Drake forward Lizzy Wendell (3) drives to the basket past Northern Iowa's Madison Weekly (2) and Ellie Herzberg (10) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Friday, Feb. 24, 2017, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
The Associated Press
Drake head coach Jennie Baranczyk speaks to fans after an NCAA college basketball game against Northern Iowa, Friday, Feb. 24, 2017, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
The Associated Press
Drake head coach Jennie Baranczyk celebrates on the court after an NCAA college basketball game against Northern Iowa, Friday, Feb. 24, 2017, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
The Associated Press
Northern Iowa guard Ellie Herzberg, left, passes over Drake's Nicole Miller, right, and Sammie Bachrodt (21) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Friday, Feb. 24, 2017, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
The Associated Press
Drake forward Lizzy Wendell is fouled by Northern Iowa forward Hannah Schonhardt, left, while driving to the basket during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Friday, Feb. 24, 2017, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
The Associated Press
Drake center Becca Jonas picks up the ball in front of Northern Iowa's Megan Maahs, center, and Taylor Hagen, right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Friday, Feb. 24, 2017, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
The Associated Press
Drake guard Becca Hittner, right, is fouled by Northern Iowa forward Taylor Hagen during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Friday, Feb. 24, 2017, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
The Associated Press
Northern Iowa guard Mikaela Morgan, left, fights for a rebound with Drake forward Lizzy Wendell (3) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Friday, Feb. 24, 2017, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
The Associated Press