LIVONIA, Mich. – The Davenport women's basketball team got into an up-and-down battle with Madonna University on Wednesday and picked up an 98-96 overtime win to begin the 2017 portion of the schedule. The Panthers suffered a defeat at Madonna during conference play last season and the Crusaders (7-7, 3-6) once again came to play against the seventh-ranked Panthers. The game featured 10 ties and seven lead changes before the Panthers made just enough plays to remain undefeated in the WHAC at 9-0 (15-2 overall).

Madonna led 16-11 after one quarter as Davenport did not have a lead in the opening quarter. In the second quarter, DU took their first lead at 19-16 at the 7:55 mark after a Lauren Brower three-pointer. DU led by as much as five points in the quarter and held onto a 35-32 lead at intermission. Davenport shot just 19 percent in the first quarter but responded by shooting 55.6 percent in the second quarter.

The Panthers built a 51-45 lead at the 4:32 mark of the third after an Emily Severn triple and Hannah Wilkerson also made a three to keep a six-point lead later in the quarter. The six-point lead proved to be their largest lead of the tight contest. Madonna also led by six points early in the fourth quarter at 70-64 after a Kacy Robinson jumper in the see-saw affair.

Davenport regained the lead 80-79 with 2:12 left in the fourth on another Brower triple to set up a frantic finish. Severn was fouled on a three-pointer and stepped to the line making all three free throws for an 83-79 lead with 1:29 in regulation. Becca Sabol cut the lead to 83-81 with 51 seconds left and then Brower missed a pair of free throws allowing Michele Hayes to score with 12 seconds left to send the game into overtime. Madonna had the ball with two seconds to go but turned it over setting up five extra minutes.

There were four ties in overtime before Davenport cemented away the win taking the lead on a Wilkerson basket with 41 seconds to play. Brower again missed a pair at the line with 16 seconds but freshman Jenna Falkenberg rebounded the second miss and put it back for a four-point lead at 97-93. The Crusaders had a chance to win it but a long triple by Lindsey Hernden was well off the mark as time expired.

Severn had a career-high with 22 points as leading scorer Courtney Murphy did not play in the game. Severn went 6-of-12 from the floor and 6-of-6 at the free throw line. Chri Carter played 33 minutes and finished with 15 points, six assists, six steals and five rebounds. Wilkerson scored 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting off the bench. Davenport shot 40.9 percent for the game while Madonna went for 49.3 percent. However they were just 2-of-6 in overtime. Hayes scored a game-high 27 points for the Crusaders while Sabol had a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds.