Site: Livonia, Mich. (MU Activities Center)
Score: No. 4 Davenport 84, Madonna 63
Records: DU (11-1, 6-1 WHAC), MU (5-6, 4-3 WHAC)
Next DU event: Sunday, December 23, 2013 – at Saginaw Valley State (University Center, Mich.) – 2 p.m.
 
LIVONIA, Mich. – Linnea Brandholm scored a career-high 17 points and fellow junior Brittany Johnson added 14 points, 10 rebounds and was two assists short from the school's first triple-double, but the two juniors led the way in the fourth-ranked Davenport women's basketball team's 84-63 road victory over Madonna Saturday afternoon. The Panthers, owners of six straight wins, improve to 11-1 overall and close the 2013 portion of Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference play with a 6-1 record.
 
Brandholm went 7-for-17 from the field, three from 3-point range to best her previous record of 16 nearly a year ago against Finlandia.  Alex Law, who finished the day with 13 points, reached double figures for the eighth time in nine games. Although she had eight points, Alison Bouman brought down 10 rebounds and a new career-high five blocks, breaking her previous best of four set three times.
 
As a team, the Panthers shot 43.6 percent from the field, the best shooting percentage on the road since Northwood (Fla.) back in season-opening weekend in Florida. DU also dominated the rebounding department with a season-most 65 over Madonna's 36.
 
The Crusaders (5-6, 4-3 WHAC), who have entered Saturday's contest winning 14 straight on their home floor, drew first blood with a pair of free throws and held the Panthers scoreless until the 18:06 mark. Bouman got Davenport on the board with a jumper and Brandholm would add four more points with a pair of layups for its first lead. Madonna reclaimed the lead only to lose it in eight seconds when Kelly Dineen's shot from beyond the arc gave Davenport a 9-7 lead at 15:40. It would be the final time Madonna has led in the game.
 
Dineen's 3-pointer would ignite a 13-1 run for Davenport. Kayleigh VanKeulen would connect the final four points on the run to give the Panthers a 30-16 lead with 7:51 left. DU would lead as many as 19 points in the opening half on two occasions.
 
Davenport went into the locker room leading Madonna 51-34. Brandholm was the only Panther to reach double figures at halftime with 11 points. DU also shot 48.8 percent from the field.
 
The Panthers will finish the calendar year in non-conference play. Before heading into Christmas Break, they will hit the road to University Center, Mich., to take on NCAA Division II Saginaw Valley State Dec. 22 at 2 p.m.
 
Post-Match Notes
Davenport improves to 18-5 all-time versus Madonna…Brittany Johnson recorded her second double-double of the season, going back-to-back games…It is the first time this season Davenport has lost the steals department, the last time an opponent forced more steals was Indiana Wesleyan in the NAIA Division II Tournament championship.
 
Women's Basketball Contact: Rick Hoskin | 616-871-6180 | rhoskin@davenport.edu
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