FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The sixth-ranked Davenport women's basketball team was just seven seconds away from a perfect WHAC slate on Saturday. The Panthers (27-3, 21-1) and 18th-ranked Warriors of Indiana Tech (24-6, 18-4) went back-and-forth before Haley Cook's three-pointer with seven seconds left gave Indiana Tech an 85-82 win. Both teams were red-hot entering the contest as Davenport had a 13-game winning streak snapped and the Warriors have now won 11 straight heading into the WHAC Tournament. Davenport won the regular season and will be the top-seed. Indiana Tech will be the two-seed when the tournament starts on Wednesday. The Panthers will host eight-seed Aquinas at the DU Student Center beginning at 7:30 p.m.
The game of the year in the WHAC pitted the top two teams and the contest did not disappoint with 10 ties and 11 lead changes including seven ties and eight lead changes in the fourth quarter alone. Keanna Gary turned in a tremendous outing with 29 points, 13 rebounds and four steals for Indiana Tech. The Warriors played just seven players but the pace did not seem to wear them down like most of Davenport's opponents this season.
Jenna Falkenberg and
Molly Babbs each had a double-double for Davenport. Falkenberg shot 7-of-10 from the floor and 3-of-3 at the foul line finishing with 17 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks. Babbs had 10 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and four steals in 26 minutes.
Momo Neal had a season-high 14 points but fouled out after 25 minutes. Neal has been clutch recently with game-winning shots in the last two wins. She fouled out with 11 seconds left in the game.
Emily Severn scored 16 points going 4-for-8 behind the arc.
Hannah Wilkerson scored 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting in 23 minutes. DU shot 52.4 percent including 66.7 percent in the fourth quarter. Indiana Tech shot 41.5 percent and made 11-of-26 behind the arc and 20-of-25 at the foul line. They were plus-10 in free throws made.