Drake and UNI women wrap up MVC season

In women’s’ basketball action tonight, Drake is at home against Southern Illinois. Drake has won seven straight games and coach Lisa Stone says her team has gained momentum.Stone says they are focused on the stretch run of the regular season but feel good about their chances of gaining an N-C-A-A at-large berth if needed.Stone says a tough non-conference schedule will be a benefit in winning that bid. Drake trails Creighton by one-game in the Valley race. The Northern Iowa women look for a positive end to the regular season with a couple of home games this week beginning with tonight’s matchup with Wichita State. U-N-I has dropped six straight games to fall to 7-9 in the Missouri Valley and U-N-I coach Tony Dicecco is hoping for a late spark to get his team back on the winning track.Dicecco says turnovers have been costly and for now the Panthers will change their style of play. He says they’ve tried to up the tempo of their game.