AP No. 22 Assistant coach Allison Pohlman | 2016–17 record 23–4 (16–0 The Valley) Assistant coach Nicci Hays Fort | |
Conference Missouri Valley Conference Head coach Jennie Baranczyk (5th year) | ||
The 2016–17 Drake Bulldogs women's basketball team represents Drake University during the 2016–17 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Bulldogs, led by fifth year head coach Jennie Baranczyk, played their home games at Knapp Center and are members of the Missouri Valley Conference.
Season
On November 4, 2016 Drake received one point in the Coaches Top 25 Preseason Poll which had them T–51st. On November 14, 2016 Drake received three points in the Coaches Top 25 Poll which had them T–39th. On January 16, 2017 Drake received a point in the AP Top 25 Poll which had them T–34th. On January 23, 2017 Drake received three points in the AP Top 25 Poll which had them ranked T–34th. On January 30, 2017 Drake received six points in the AP Top 25 Poll which had them T–30th. On February 6, 2017 Drake received 43 points in the AP Top 25 Poll which had them ranked 26th. On February 7, 2017 Drake received five points in the Coaches Top 25 Poll which had them ranked 32nd. On February 10, 2017 with Drake's 101–49 win over Illinois State they tied the best start in Missouri Valley Conference history with a 12–0 start. On February 12, 2017 with Drake's 98–46 win over Bradley they set the record for the best start in Missouri Valley Conference history with a 13–0 start. On February 13, 2017 Drake received 51 points in the AP Top 25 Poll which had them ranked 25th. With that ranking, Drake entered the Top 25 poll for the first time since December 3, 2001. On February 14, 2017 Drake received 20 points in the Coaches Top 25 Poll which had them ranked 26th. On February 20, 2017 Drake received 123 points in the AP Top 25 Poll which had them ranked 21st. On February 21, 2017 Drake received 89 points in the Coaches Top 25 Poll which had them ranked 22nd. On February 24, 2017 Drake clinched the Missouri Valley Conference regular season championship with a 70–57 win over Northern Iowa. It was Drake's first regular season championship since the 2007–08 school year and first outright title since 1999–2000. On February 27, 2017 Drake received 128 points in the AP Top 25 Poll which had them ranked 22nd.