Box Score

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Karli Harris' game-winning 3-point attempt was just off the mark as the buzzer sounded in Davenport's 67-65 loss to Briar Cliff (Iowa) in the Second Round of the NAIA Division II Women's Basketball Championship at Tyson Events Center/Gateway Arena on Friday. The Lady Panthers bow out of their eighth National Championship appearance with the defeat and conclude their season with a record of 30-5.
 
The entire contest was a fast and continuous back-and-forth battle with 10 ties and 10 lead changes. DU raced out to a 19-9 lead midway through the first half, but fell victim to a 6:38 span without a bucket. That drought, paired with turnovers, allowed the Chargers to gain momentum and tie the game at 21-21 at the 7:31 mark. A basket down low by Briar Cliff's Kela Cihak cut Davenport's lead to two, 34-32, for the Lady Panthers' smallest halftime advantage of the season.
 
Both squads were plagued by turnovers and struggled from behind the 3-point line, shooting a combined 5-of-32. DU forced Briar Cliff into a dozen turnovers, but gave it away 14 times and hit just a pair of its 10 tries from long range. Abby Neff was the lifeline of the Lady Panthers' offense, pouring in 14 first-half points.
 
The quick pace of the first half carried over to the second with the grind continuing. Briar Cliff pushed in front, 38-37, at 17:35, and went up by as many as six points, 50-44 (11:53). Davenport chipped away at the Chargers and tied the game for the eighth time at 54-54 (6:21). With the game moving down the wire, the battle took to the free-throw line.
 
DU connected on 4-of-6 attempts from the charity stripe over the final 2:38, but the pair of misses was critical. Briar Cliff hit all six of its tries down the stretch, including a pair after the Lady Panthers evened the score at 65-65 with 3.2 ticks remaining on the clock.
 
Neff ended as the game's leading scorer in her final outing wearing a Davenport jersey. The senior logged 18 point and pulled down five rebounds. Fellow senior Karlee Despres had a 10-point, nine-rebound and seven-assist effort in her final showing. Rookie Abbey Hengesbach contributed 13 points and five boards. The Lady Panthers shot 43 percent (24-of-55) from the field and 60 percent from the free-throw line, but was only able to hit on three of their 18 looks from beyond the arc.
 
DU outscored the Chargers in points off turnovers (13-8) and in the paint (38-26). The difference maker in the game came at the line, with Briar Cliff hitting 20-of-25 freebies, while the Lady Panthers were 14-of-23.
 
Post-Game Quotes - Head coach Mike Williams
 
On the steal and layup to tie it with under 10 seconds - “It was our lockdown and play in front of everybody…we have a floater in case of a lob over the top and we were very patient and got a bounce pass and layup.”
 
On the atmosphere - “I do not even think the girls heard the noises…I did not either and I do not think it was really a factor”
 
Post-Game Notes
 
The senior class of Abby Neff, Karlee Despres, Julie Janish and Carrie Grubius finished their career with a 129-12 overall record…DU has finished four straight seasons with at least 30 wins…The loss drops DU to 2-1 all-time against Briar Cliff and 5-7 all-time against teams from the GPAC...