Allison Pohlman of Drake talks about her team’s progress this summer
Drake coach Allison Pohlman is pleased with her team’s progress this summer
An important summer for the Drake women’s basketball team is behind us.
The defending Missouri Valley Conference champions finished their practice on the last weekend of July.
Bulldogs coach Allison Pohlman recently spoke with reporters about how the summer went for a team that largely returns its roster from last season.
Here are five thoughts on the Drake women’s basketball team’s summer workouts:
The Bulldogs prepare for a busy non-league schedule
The summer was especially important because Drake will hit the ground running despite a tough non-conference schedule. Drake opens the regular season against South Dakota State on November 4th. The Bulldogs then host Saint Louis on November 7th. They travel to Creighton on November 11th, host Iowa on November 17th and play at Iowa State on November 24th.
The schedule could improve the Bulldogs’ NCAA tournament record, and Pohlman hopes it will also help her team prepare for a difficult league schedule.
“There are a lot of guys who don’t necessarily want to play some of the teams in our league,” Pohlman said. “It’s exciting. I think we’ve been able to put together a schedule that ultimately prepares us for playing in the Valley.”
New signing Abbie Aalsma could join immediately
Aalsma is new to Drake but a familiar face in the MVC. She spent the last two seasons at Illinois State, where she averaged 5.6 points and 1.7 rebounds in 66 games (including 34 starts). Aalsma is coming off her best season, where she averaged 7.5 points while shooting 42% from the field and 37% from 3-point range.
“She’s done a good job,” Pohlman said. “I think she really gives us depth at the 2 and 3 positions … and I think she has great fundamentals. I think she’s a phenomenal player and I think she’s going to be able to really help us this year.”
Last season’s early exit motivates the Bulldogs
Drake’s 2023-24 season ended with a loss to Colorado in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. While the loss was no surprise, it was still disappointing for a Bulldogs team that had won 29 games and the MVC regular-season and postseason titles. It was the second straight season that Drake was eliminated in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The latest early exit has hurt the Bulldogs over the summer.
“I think that’s a huge incentive, and I think we’ve seen this team with a lot of the same players play in the NCAA tournament for years and, let’s be honest, not be able to compete,” Pohlman said. “I think what you’ve seen is a very motivated group.”
The newcomers fit in
Drake’s roster includes many new faces. Aalsma is joined by freshmen Grace Knutson (Cedar Falls), Peyton McCabe (Blair, Nebraska) and Maggie Taylor (Rapid City, SD). Pohlman said she’s pleased with how the four have settled in so far.
“Overall, it was a lot of fun to watch these four step in and take the lead for our returnees,” she said.
Anna Miller has made significant progress
Pohlman praised Miller several times. When Pohlman singles out a player for praise, it means something. Especially since the 6-foot-3 senior has won two consecutive MVC Defensive Player of the Year awards. Miller is coming off perhaps her best season yet, averaging 13.3 points, 9.9 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game.
Any improvement from Miller could make her an even more dominant player in the MVC. Pohlman believes this is possible because Miller is becoming more comfortable in the system.
“It’s incredible to watch Anna Miller continue to grow this summer,” Pohlman said.
