GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – After a longer layoff than normal due to postponements, the Davenport women's basketball team came out slow in the first quarter and could not recover in a 67-55 loss to Northern Michigan. The Wildcats held the Panthers to just five points in the opening quarter and DU shot 15.4 percent. The Panthers trailed 18-5 after the first quarter but held their own and outscored the Wildcats over the final three quarters including a 24-15 edge in the fourth quarter. It was the third meeting between the teams with NMU now taking a 2-1 lead in the series. Davenport falls to 7-10 overall and 5-5 in the GLIAC. 

HOW IT HAPPENED
-Davenport scored the first two points of the game, but then the Wildcats held the Panthers without a field goal for 8:35 until Taylor Smith's layup with four seconds left which was the second field goal of the game.
-Davenport managed to shoot 50 percent (5-of-10) in the second quarter and trailed 35-20 at halftime. In the second quarter, Davenport managed to cut the lead to seven points (21-14) after Amanda Merz canned a three-pointer. The Panthers trailed 27-19 with 3:04 left until halftime, but NMU ended the half on a high note and led by 15 points.
-The Panthers had the deficit under double digits just once in the second half coming at the 8:14 mark of the third quarter after Claire Austin hit consecutive three-pointers. The Wildcats regained control of the contest with a 10-2 run after a timeout and led 45-28 with 4:11 remaining in the third quarter.
-NMU took a 52-31 lead into the fourth quarter but DU did not quit as they outscored the Wildcats 24-15 in the final 10 minutes. The final deficit of 12 points (67-55) was the closest the Panthers got in the fourth quarter. They had 14 of their points off the bench and shot 10-of-16 from the floor.

INSIDE THE BOX
-Austin recorded a career-high seven steals which was four better than her previous high. She finished the game with eight points and four rebounds as well in 23 minutes.
-Davenport shot 40.4 percent from the floor meaning they were 19-of-39 (.487) over the final three quarters.
-Merz led the team in scoring with 12 points, marking the third time this season she has done that. She was 5-of-8 from the floor and also had two steals in 30 minutes.
-Emily Severn notched eight points and seven rebounds in 32 minutes. She made a pair of three-pointers in the game and is now one shy (160) of seventh place all-time at DU.
-DU turned NMU over 22 times in the game and themselves committed 13 turnovers. The team also had 17 steals which was a season-high.
-Smith led the team with five assists to set a season-high in that category.
-Jenna Falkenberg scored six points and blocked three shots. She now has 91 in her career which ranks fourth in school history.

UP NEXT
-The Panthers will travel to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan for a make-up game against No. 12 Michigan Tech (14-3, 8-2 GLIAC). The Panthers will be the home team in the game which will be played on Thursday, Jan. 25 at noon.