GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Sophomore
Ellie Toney carried the Davenport women's basketball team to a 65-61 win over Walsh on Tuesday for the Panthers' first win of the season. Toney scored a career-high 22 points and recorded her first career double-double with 10 rebounds in 31 minutes. She went 6-of-12 from the floor including 3-of-5 from the arc and also went 7-of-8 at the free throw line.
Davenport led 31-22 at the half and increased their lead to 52-38 after three quarters. Toney hit a pair of free throws to begin the fourth quarter for a 54-38 lead with 8:55 to play. The Cavaliers began to employ a full-court press and got themselves back into the game. Davenport was stuck on 56 points from the 8:23 mark until the 4:52 mark after a pair of
Isabel Lindo free throws for a 58-51 lead.
Alycia Triplett split at the free throw line with 1:19 remaining to make it 62-59 and a one-possession game. Davenport turned it over under a minute to go, but Kiley Dyrlund missed a layup with 31 seconds left on a brilliant blocked shot by
Lillee Gustafson. Gustafson was fouled and missed her first free throw but made the second to go up 63-59. Dyrlund was fouled by Toney with 23 ticks left and made both of her free throws to make it 63-61.
Mary Liedel stepped up as seniors should and made both free throws with 16 seconds left for a 65-61 lead. Abby Hickey missed a triple for Walsh and
Alexa Kolnitys secured the rebound. Kolnitys missed both free throws with five seconds to play, but Walsh could not race downcourt and get off a shot.
The Panthers overcame 26 turnovers in large part due to the full-court pressure. Walsh committed 19 turnovers as well, but outscored the Panthers 25-20 in points off turnovers. Liedel was in double figures with 11 points for Davenport and grabbed five rebounds. Gustafson led the team with 14 rebounds giving her 25 games in her career with double-digit rebounds.
Davenport's best shooting quarter was the third when they went 8-of-16 from the floor. They finished at 36.4 percent (20-of-55) including 7-of-18 from behind the arc. It was the second win in as many games in the all-time series against the Cavaliers. Next up will be the team's first road game of the season as they travel to Findlay on Saturday for a 1:00 PM tip against the Oilers.
