Box Score
PORTLAND, Ore. - A late first half run propelled the No. 4 ranked Lady Panthers to a convincing 81-60 win at Warner Pacific College on Tuesday night.  The victory, which lifts Davenport to 11-2 on the year, is the fifth over a team in the Top 25 or receiving votes of the NAIA DII poll.  DU is next in action on December 27 when the face St. Francis (Ill.) in the St. Xavier (Ill.) tournament.

20 points from Carrie Grubius helped the Lady Panthers win their sixth straight game and second in a row on the trip to Oregon. The senior finished 7-19 from the field and also posted a pair of assists and four rebounds. Chipping in with double-digits was Karlee Despres with 13 and Abbey Hengesbach with 10 as eight different players finished with at least five. Davenport was 46% (30-65) from the floor while limiting the Knights to 38% (25-65)

Warner Pacific, who came into the game receiving votes in the latest NAIA DII women's basketball poll, jumped on the Panthers early and took a 5-0 lead.  After DU dug a 7-1 deficit, the Panthers rallied to score nine of the next 11 points to lead 10-9.  Unfortunately, that would be their last lead until the 2:50 mark as WPC led by as many as 10 (27-17).  After a Karlee Despres three ball and a pair of free-throws by Abbey Hengesbach, DU led 28-27 and they finished the first half on a 23-6 run to lead 40-33.

The momentum from the first half carried into the second as DU slowly increased their lead and the Lady Panthers built as many as a 24 point lead with 1:46 on the clock.  Coming off the bench, sophomore Alison Bouman scored six straight points midway through the half to help put the Knights away which was part of her season high 8. Also contributing off the bench for DU were Leah Sevcik with five and Kayleigh VanKeulen with four.

Davenport will be in action next on Tuesday, December 27 when they take on University of St. Francis (Ill.) in the St. Xavier Holiday Tournament.

Post-Game Quotes – Head Coach Mike Williams

On late run in first half after trailing for most of the 20 minutes: “We called a timeout and talked about keeping the ball off the floor and making the easy pass. The girls did that and they started to hit some open shots which brought their confidence back up.  The defensive pressure was great”

On getting a win headed into Christmas break over a quality opponent : “Any time you can go on the road and get a win in their gym against a tough opponent it's a plus.  We have played a tough schedule and the girls have stepped up”

Post - Game Notes

Davenport is now 5-1 this season when facing teams ranked in the NAIA DI or DII top 25 poll with the lone loss coming to NAIA DI No. 12 Olivet Nazarene…Five Lady Panthers finished with at least six rebounds in the game as DU outrebounded the much bigger Warner Pacific ….Davenport outscored the Knights 29-9 from the bench

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