GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Davenport women's basketball team had their best offensive output of the season on Saturday (Feb. 3) in a 107-85 loss to No. 1 Ashland. The Panthers (7-14, 5-9 GLIAC) gave the Eagles a battle especially in the second half outscoring them 57-50. The Eagles (22-0, 14-0 GLIAC) won for the 59th straight time which is a NCAA Division II record. DU also allowed over 100 points for the first time since Nov. 23, 2003.  

HOW IT HAPPENED
-The first quarter was a tight one for the first 7:30 before Ashland ended the quarter on a run. Davenport had a 10-6 lead at the 6:57 mark after Emily Severn hit back-to-back triples. Ashland would go on a 9-0 run to gain a 15-10 lead after a Sarah Hart jumper. Ashland used a full-court press which allowed Davenport to beat it at times and get easy baskets. Severn ended the run on a fast-break layup with 3:39 left in the quarter. Amanda Merz split at the foul line for a 15-13 deficit and then Ashland scored 11 of the final 13 points of the quarter to lead 26-15 after 10 minutes.
-Ashland continued to press and create turnovers by DU in the second quarter and raced out to a 36-15 lead at the 6:54 mark after a Laina Snyder jumper. Kelsey Crockett scored the first points in the quarter for DU at the 6:37 mark. The Eagles had a 57-28 lead going into halftime.
-Davenport did not quit despite the large deficit in the third quarter and scored 32 points. The lead got under 20 with 7:04 left as Jenna Falkenberg hit a layup for a 59-41 deficit. Ashland stretched it back to 70-44 over the next two minutes after a Brooke Smith three-pointer. Ashland led 80-60 after three quarters and got 10 points off their bench in the quarter.
-The closest Davenport got in the fourth quarter was 18 points early and gave up 20 fast-break points in the final 10 minutes. Both teams scored 16 points in the paint.

INSIDE THE BOX
-Severn set a career-high with 25 points and made a career-high seven three-pointers. She finished 9-of-18 from the floor including 7-of-15 behind the arc. Severn also had four rebounds and three assists in 36 minutes.
-Crockett scored a career-high 17 points which was six more than her previous high. She went 8-of-9 from the floor and made her only three-point attempt in 11 minutes.
-Falkenberg was also in double figures with 10 points while adding five boards and four blocked shots.
-Merz had a solid game at point guard with a season-high seven assists and just three turnovers. DU committed 25 turnovers which is below the season average of 30 caused by Ashland. The Eagles scored 40 points off turnovers compared to 17 for DU.
-Davenport shot 54.7 percent from the floor establish a new season-high. They also made a season-high 10 three-pointers.
-Claire Austin led the team with nine rebounds and scored five points in 26 minutes.
-Ashland was lethal from deep going 15-of-27 for 55.6 percent and the 15 makes are the most given up by DU this season.

UP NEXT
-The Panthers are still fighting for their postseason lives despite dropping their last six games. The task will be challenging because they play five of their final six games on the road. DU will travel to Purdue Northwest on Thursday, Feb. 8 for a 6 p.m. start against the Pride. The Panthers will be looking to even the season series after a 63-59 loss back on Nov. 30.