Aalsma, Drake Bulldogs host the Valparaiso Beacons

Valparaiso Beacons (0-26, 0-15 MVC) at Drake Bulldogs (7-17, 6-8 MVC)

Des Moines, Iowa; Thursday, 7 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Drake faces Valparaiso in a matchup of MVC teams.

The Bulldogs are 3-9 on their home court. Drake is third in the MVC with 10.2 offensive rebounds per game led by Maggie Taylor averaging 2.5.

The Beacons have gone 0-15 against MVC opponents. Valparaiso is 0-2 when it turns the ball over less than its opponents and averages 18.7 turnovers per game.

Drake averages 70.6 points per game, 9.8 fewer points than the 80.4 Valparaiso allows. Valparaiso's 32.9% shooting percentage from the field this season is 10.0 percentage points lower than Drake has allowed to its opponents (42.9%).

The matchup Thursday is the first meeting this season for the two teams in conference play.

Fiona Connolly is averaging 11.5 points for the Beacons. Allia von Schlegell is averaging 15.2 points over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Bulldogs: 3-7, averaging 72.7 points, 35.2 rebounds, 18.1 assists, 5.7 steals and 2.9 blocks per game while shooting 43.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 75.8 points per game.

Beacons: 0-10, averaging 58.6 points, 32.1 rebounds, 11.1 assists, 5.7 steals and 2.3 blocks per game while shooting 34.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 82.5 points.

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