MIDLAND, Mich. - The season opener after a very long time off proved to be a bit of a downer as the Panthers fell on the road at Northwood University. The Panthers saw the momentum shift in the third quarter as the Timberwolves got hot from the floor and turned a 34-27 halftime lead into a 71-43 lead after three quarters. DU played the fourth quarter tighter but did fall 99-67.

The team got a very solid debut by Loni Sales. The junior guard scored a team-high 22 points on 7-of-15 shooting and also went 6-of-6 at the free throw line. Junior Taylor Opolka was one rebound shy of her career-high with 10 and was one point shy (9) of her second career double-double. Opolka shot 4-of-8 from the floor and also had two blocks to tie her career high.

Junior Toni Grace was the other player in double figures in the scoring column with 13 and also added four assists, one shy of her career high, in 34 minutes of action. Sophomore Emily Lange came off the bench to add seven points, four assists (tied career high), and three rebounds. DU finished 23-of-60 (38.3%) from the floor.

Northwood got a game-high 28 points from Adele Kemp. She shot 10-of-13 from the field and was 5-of-6 from behind the arc. Brooke Ditto and Alli Keyser each scored 12 points as Keyser went 3-of-3 from the arc and also had three steals. NU shot 48.7 percent overall and were 13-of-24 from the arc as a team.

The two teams will play again in Midland tomorrow (Jan. 9) at 3 p.m.