Box Score

HASTINGS, Neb. – In their second consecutive game vs. a Top-25 opponent, the #2 ranked Lady Panthers battled back from ten points down in the second half to defeat #23 Briar Cliff 99-85.  DU is now 2-0 on the year with their first home game set for Saturday against Olivet Nazarene at 5:00pm.

The Lady Panthers took on their second straight top 25 team on Saturday as they battled #23 Briar Cliff, a 2010 final four team.  DU grabbed a quick 5-0 lead but Briar Cliff answered with a 7-0 run and would lead the rest of the first half.  Senior Kallie Benike had 10 first half points and senior Jennie Closson chipped in 9, but the Panthers trailed 47-39.  BC shot 7 for 10 from beyond the arc in the first half and 53% from the floor.

The Panthers clawed back into the game in the second half and tied the score at 71 with 9 minutes to go.  Junior Julie Janish was fouled on a three point attempt and hit all three free throws to give the Panthers their first lead since that initial 5-0 run with a little over eight minutes to go. 

Then the Panthers exploded scoring 28 points in the last 8 minutes compared to just 14 for Briar Cliff.  During the run, junior Karlee Despres scored 8 points, Benike five and Riana Hensley five as the Panthers would run away from the worn down Chargers.

For the game, five different Panthers scored in double-figures led by Benike's 21 points. Closson finished with 18, Despres 14, senior Kristi Boehm had 13 and Janish finished with 10, all coming in the second half. Janish and Boehm combined to go 16 of 17 from the free throw line.

Davenport (2-0) will have a week to recover from their long road trip to Nebraska before facing off with Olivet Nazarene University next Saturday at the Student Center.  Tip-off will be at 5:00pm.

No box score was provided from Hastings College.