Drake 76, Wichita State 65

<br>(Wichita, Kansas-AP) -- The Drake women have clinched a tie for the Missouri Valley Conference title. <br><br>Carla Bennett scored 18 points and eight rebounds as the Bulldogs played a near-perfect

Friday, March 2nd 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Wichita, Kansas-AP) -- The Drake women have clinched a tie for the Missouri Valley Conference title.

Carla Bennett scored 18 points and eight rebounds as the Bulldogs played a near-perfect second half to beat Wichita State 76-to-65 on the road last night.

Wichita State lead 38-to-25 at halftime before Drake caught fire and outscored the Shockers 51-to-27 in the second half.

Erin Richards added 16 points for Drake, including 14 in the second half when she drilled all four of her three-point attempts.

The conference title is Drake's second straight and fourth in the last five years.

Courtney Sims had 20 points, hitting six threes, to lead the Shockers.

Drake improves 21-and-four overall and 16-and-one in the conference. Wichita State falls to nine-and-16 and seven-and-ten.