MIDLAND, Mich. – The Davenport women's basketball team could not contain Northwood on Thursday (Feb. 15) like they did in the first meeting this season in a 74-57 loss at Riepma Arena. The Timberwolves managed just 50 points in the first meeting in a Davenport win, but came out hot in the first quarter and continued good shooting especially from behind the arc to even the season series. The loss moves Davenport to 7-17 overall and 5-12 in the GLIAC. The Panthers are now in a three-way tie with Saginaw Valley State and Tiffin for the eighth and final spot in the GLIAC Tournament with three games remaining.
HOW IT HAPPENED
-The teams came out executing on offense as Davenport led 22-21 after the first quarter. DU shot 53.3 percent (8-of-15) while NU shot 69.2 percent (9-of-13). The teams also combined to shoot 7-of-12 from the arc. There were two ties and three lead changes in the quarter and DU converted eight points off turnovers. DU also had six different players score in the quarter led by Amanda Merz with six points.
-The third tie of the game was 22 seconds into the second quarter and then the Timberwolves took the lead for good. Maddy Seeley's three-pointer gave NU a 25-22 lead and then the Panthers got within a point twice but could not take a lead or tie the game. Northwood stretched a four-point lead to 42-33 at halftime on a 7-2 run over the final 1:49 of the quarter.
-Davenport cut the deficit to 42-37 on a Emily Severn layup at the 7:28 mark of the third quarter but Northwood responded with a 10-2 run to take their largest lead at 52-39 with 5:05 left in the quarter. Northwood led 58-44 at the end of the quarter and shot 50 percent in the third compared to 26.7 percent for Davenport.
-The closest that DU would get in the fourth quarter was 10 points (64-54) with 5:03 left after a Merz layup. Haley Gibbons led the team with four points in the quarter.
INSIDE THE BOX
-Northwood had three players score 62 of their 74 points. Lindsay Orwat scored 24 points going 10-of-15 from the floor. Seeley scored 20 points going 6-of-8 behind the arc and also had five assists. Karli Herrington scored 18 points and registered a double-double with 11 rebounds. Northwood finished 10-of-20 from the arc.
-Merz led Davenport with 15 points just one shy of her career high. Jenna Falkenberg grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds and scored nine points in 33 minutes.
-Severn scored 10 points and added two assists in 36 minutes. Davenport finished 5-of-12 behind the arc and 8-of-11 at the foul line.
UP NEXT
-The Panthers will play their final home game of the season on Saturday, Feb. 17 against Saginaw Valley State. The 1 p.m. start against the Cardinals will feature a pre-game ceremony honoring three seniors in Severn, Wilkerson and Crockett.