GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The third meeting between Davenport and Siena Heights were not like the first two as the Panthers played dominant defense in a 77-39 rout of the Saints in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Tournament Championship on Monday at the DU Student Center. The Panthers made it eight straight postseason tournament titles by holding the Saints to 21.5 percent (14-of-65) shooting marking the third-best field goal percentage defense in a game this season. Siena Heights and Davenport met in the conference tournament final for the third time in series history also playing in 2014 and 2015.
Jaaliyah Arrington came off a career game at Indiana Tech in the semifinals for Siena Heights but scored just seven points going 1-of-14 from the floor. First Team All-Conference player April Watson recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds but went 0-of-5 from the free throw line. Davenport cleared the glass to the tune of 56-39 including 13 offensive rebounds and 12 second-chance points.
The Panthers came out strong with a 17-6 lead after the first quarter holding the Saints to 17.6 percent shooting in the opening quarter. Siena Heights scored the first eight points of the second quarter to cut the deficit to 17-14 as Davenport took a timeout. The teams traded baskets over the next few minutes and the Panthers could not shake the Saints leading 29-25 at the half.
The second half belonged to DU as they took a 35-25 lead 2:25 into the third quarter. The lead ballooned to 17 points at 46-29 with 3:05 left in the quarter as SHU scored just four points to that point in the quarter. DU led 52-35 at the end of 30 minutes and then scored the first 10 points of the fourth quarter to put it away leading 62-35 with 7:06 left in the contest. The Panthers did not allow a field goal in the final 6:20 of the game.
DU beat Siena Heights for the 25th straight time and will now await their draw in the upcoming NAIA Division II National Championship hosted in Sioux City, Iowa beginning on March 8. 12 different Panthers scored in the game and Emily Severn led the team with 20 points including 4-of-6 behind the arc. Molly Babbs grabbed a team-high 12 rebounds and scored eight points. Mallory Sewell scored 12 points on 6-of-11 shooting. Amanda Merz recorded nine rebounds, four points and three steals. The Panthers connected on 29-of-40 (72.5) from the charity stripe. It was the season-high as a team for makes and attempts at the foul line.
