Site: Grand Rapids, Mich. (DU Turf Field)
Score: No. 2 Davenport 15, No. 6 Indiana Tech 10
Records: DU (15-2), IT (10-5)
Next DU event: NWLL Tournament First Round – Seeding and dates to be announced Sunday
 
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Brooke Knoll continued to carry the scoring rhythm she had 24 hours ago. After scoring a season-high seven goals against Siena Heights Friday, the freshman found the back of the net five times, including three in the first half, to help the second-ranked and top seeded Davenport women's lacrosse team defeat No. 6 Indiana Tech 15-10 and win its first ever Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Tournament on a rainy Saturday afternoon at DU Turf Field.
 
The Panthers (15-2), who clinched an automatic bid to the National Women's Lacrosse League Tournament held on the campus of Lindenwood University – Belleville, will find out Sunday who and when they will face in the opening round.
 
Kaitlyn Lowden also net a hat trick for the second straight night and added two assists. Although she had one goal, Taylor Balch did assist five of them including three of Knoll's.
 
Freshman Samantha Powers had a lot of work to do between the pipes, making a season-high 16 saves while picking up one groundball. Natalie McHale was one of five Panthers to collect groundballs but won a season-high four draw controls.
 
It was all defense for both teams for a majority of the first half. Kendall Guthrie broke the ice at the 21:56 mark but Taylor Balch answered back for Davenport about nearly five minutes later. Balch's goal would ignite a five-point run scored by a different Panther.
 
Indiana Tech (10-5) would cut the deficit to one (6-5) with 1:03 left, but Brooke Knoll found the back of the net with 12 seconds left and Mackenzie VanDerWarf scored right before the horn sounded to give the Panthers an 8-5 lead at intermission.
 
Despite two consecutive goals by the Warriors brought the lead down to 9-7 with 25:35 left in regulation, the Panthers would run away with the lead by scoring six goals in nearly 20 minutes.
 
Post-Game Notes
Davenport returns to the NWLL Tournament for the first time since their inaugural year as a varsity program in 2012…The Panthers improve to 2-4 all-time against Indiana Tech…Davenport reached double figures in points against Warriors in the last five meetings…Taylor Balch and Kaitlyn Lowden are even at 121 career goals to lead the program's all-time list
 
Women's Lacrosse Contact: Rick Hoskin | 616-871-6180 | rhoskin@davenport.edu
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