GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Davenport hosted Grace Christian for their home-opener of the 2019-20 season and ran the Tigers out of the gym. The Panthers won by a score of 91-43, a 48-point margin of victory. The win marks the first for Davenport this season and starts their seven-game home stretch on the right foot. Davenport is now 2-0 over Grace Christian all-time and hold an average margin of victory of 46 points in those two games.
 
THE BASICS
Final Score: Davenport-91 | Grace Christian-43
Location: Grand Rapids, Mich.
 
POINTS PER HALF
First Quarter: DU-25 | GCU-4
Second Quarter: DU-23 | GCU-8
Third Quarter: DU-25 | GCU-9
Fourth Quarter: DU-18 | GCU-22
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The game was determined early on as the Panthers hammered out a 25-4 lead after completion of the first quarter. Davenport held the Tigers scoreless in the final 6:30 of the quarter, going on a 17-0 run. The team drilled five threes in the first, with a pair of those coming from Madison Jones.
 
The lead soared for Davenport in the second quarter as DU went on a 12-0 run to start. The run was capped off with a three by Scout Nelson, who accounted for eight of the 12 points during that stretch. Grace Christian struggled against the full court press and on ball pressure that the Panthers provided in the first half. The Tigers finally scored their 10^th point of the game with 1:51 to go in the half. Davenport led 48-12 after 20 minutes of play.
 
For the third straight quarter, Davenport held the Tigers to single digits in scoring. The Panthers forced Grace Christian into eight turnovers and poured in 17 points off those turnovers. By the end of the third quarter the lead had grew to over 50 points and the Panthers were scoring at will.
 
The largest lead of the game came at the beginning of the fourth quarter when Amiyah VanderGeld finished a layup to make the score 75-21, a 54-point advantage for the Panthers. The pressure died down a bit from the Panthers and Grace Christian started to get their feet underneath them. The Tigers outscored Davenport 22-18 in the final quarter. However, the lead was too large for any type of comeback and Davenport earned their first win of the very young season.

STAT LEADERS
Points: Jones (20)
Rebounds: Taylor Opolka (10)
Assists: Nelson (6)
Steals: Opolka (5)
Blocks: Courtney McInerney (3)
 
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS


PLAYER OF THE GAME

 
UP NEXT
Davenport continues their large home stand with a non-conference tilt against Findlay on Friday, November 22. The game has a starting time of 7:00 p.m. inside the DU Student Center.
 
Story by: Devin Steiner
 
Picture credit: Chris duMond