Wayne State 85, Davenport 81 - OT (Jan. 11)
The Davenport women’s basketball team went into overtime for the first time this season on Thursday night, but could not pull out the victory falling 85-81 to visiting Wayne State. The contest was one of the most entertaining of the season for the Panthers who scored a season-high 81 points and went toe-to-toe with the Warriors. The whistles were busy in this one as 50 fouls were called and 64 free throw attempts were taken between the two teams. Wayne State finished 30-of-37 at the charity stripe while Davenport finished 20-of-27.
The first half would not have indicated that this game would end in the 80’s. Davenport struggled offensively in the first 20 minutes with 23 points at the intermission. The Panthers were 7-of-27 from the floor including 5-of-13 from behind the arc. They could not get inside the arc and make much space shooting 2-of-14 inside the arc. Wayne State led 31-23 at halftime and shot 50 percent in the first quarter and 35.7 percent in the second quarter. The Warriors were 4-of-4 at the free throw line in the first half and went 23-of-27 in the second half at the line. Davenport was also 4-of-4 at the line in the first half going 4-of-4 in the first quarter and not attempting a free throw in the second quarter.
Wayne State led by double digits in the latter stages of the second quarter and led 36-26 at the 8:17 mark of the third quarter before the Panthers made a run. DU scored eight straight points to trail 36-34 in less than two minutes. Makenna Bryant helped lead the run as she made three free throws and connected on a driving layup. Alexa Kolnitys also had a traditional three-point play to cut the deficit to two points. Davenport took their first lead since 2-0 at the 1:24 mark of the third quarter when Ellie Toney had a driving layup for her 12th point of the game.
Davenport grew the lead to five at 51-46 with 51 seconds left in the third quarter, but the Warriors closed the quarter with six straight points to lead 52-51 heading into the fourth quarter. It was a one-possession game for a majority of the fourth quarter before the Panthers opened up a 70-64 lead after Bryant nailed a three-pointer at the 3:30 mark to tie her career high with 19 points. Wayne State would eventually tie the game at 72 with 49 seconds to play in regulation as McKenna Ferguson drove the lane for her 22nd point of the game. Ferguson with four seconds left was tripped and went to the line to convert both free throws to make it 74-72. Davenport called a timeout and advanced the ball to mid-court. They got it to Lillee Gustafson in the paint and she was fouled with one second remaining. She calmly knocked down both free throws to send the game into overtime.
The Panthers just could not find offensive rhythm in overtime going 2-of-11 from the floor including 0-of-3 behind the arc. Wayne State made 4-of-8 from the floor in the extra session. The Panthers had a brief lead in overtime at 79-77 after a pair of Isabel Lindo free throws. Bryant set a new career high with 21 points making a shot with 1:58 to play to tie the game at 81. The Warriors would score the final four points of the game as Ferguson pushed her new career high to 28 points on a layup with 1:41 remaining and then Gabi Lutchka sealed it with two free throws with 15 seconds left.
Bryant’s new career high of 21 points featured 7-of-12 shooting including 4-of-9 from the arc. Toney finished with 18 points, her second highest point total this season, and the fifth time in double figures this season. Toney connected on 4-of-8 from deep and also had a double-double with 10 rebounds. Gustafson finished with a double-double as well with 17 points and 11 rebounds. She had a big second half and overtime after two points and three rebounds in the first half. Lindo was the fourth player in double figures with 12 points and also had six boards and three steals.
