GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - It was a really tough way to end a very competitive game for the women's basketball team as they lost at the buzzer against Parkside, 67-66, on Saturday. What a difference this time around however after the Rangers won 99-59 in Kenosha, Wis. earlier this season. On an individual note, freshman Lillie Gustafson set a new single-game school record with 19 rebounds that stood for nearly 19 years. Karen Rugless had the previous record of 18 set back on Feb. 24, 2003 at Rochester College in the first season of the program.
Alyssa Nelson was the go-to player for Parkside and they went to her on the final play off an inbounds under their own basket. Nelson cut into the lane and Courtney Schoenbeck fed her a pass for a layup as time expired for the narrow victory. The Rangers improved to 8-11 overall and 5-6 in the GLIAC, while Davenport is now 1-18 overall and 0-11 in the GLIAC. This contest featured 16 lead changes and eight ties as both teams battled for 40 minutes. Parkside had the lead for 21:59 while Davenport had 13:18 with the lead. Each team scored 32 points in the paint with the biggest difference coming on the fast break as Parkside held a 21-7 advantage.
Davenport led 22-20 after a solid first quarter on both sides. DU shot 36.8 percent from the floor compared to 53.8 percent by the visitors. Parkside then outscored DU 22-20 in the second quarter for a 42-42 tie at the break. The Panthers shot 53.3 percent in the second quarter compared to 47.1 percent from the Rangers.
Scout Nelson gave DU a one-point lead splitting a pair of free throws to start the third quarter. After that it was Parkside going on a 10-0 run for a 52-43 lead leading into the media timeout at 4:56. That lead grew to as many as 12 points at 57-45 with 3:06 left in the quarter. Parkside led 60-51 at the end of the third quarter as Davenport was held to 28.6 percent shooting and committed six turnovers in the quarter.
The team battled back in the fourth quarter scoring the first six points of the quarter to make it 60-57 after a turnaround jumper by Nelson. Davenport would take a 64-63 lead with 3:29 remaining as
Toni Grace hit a step-back jumper for her 20th point of the game.
Emily Lange gave DU a 66-63 lead with a layup off an offensive rebound with 2:09 to go. Nelson would score the game's final four points to give her 32 for the game. She made a pair of free throws with 1:50 left and then the game-winning shot at the horn.
Grace finished with 20 points going over 20-plus for the second time in the last three games for the senior guard. Grace also grabbed five rebounds and had four assists in 33-plus minutes. Gustafson had nine of her record 19 rebounds offensively and also finished with nine points and two assists. DU finished 26-of-63 (.413) from the floor and were 9-of-13 from the foul line. The Panthers are back at the DU Student Center on Monday, Jan. 31 for a rescheduled game with Lake Superior State beginning at noon.
