SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - There were 10 lead changes and nine ties on Saturday and in the end it was Davenport picking up a 60-58 road win at Lake Superior State. It was the first GLIAC win of the season for the Panthers and snapped a 16-game losing streak in conference games dating back to last season. DU secured their third win overall of the season and needed a stop on the final possession to get the win.
Neither team led by more than six points at any moment of this contest as the Lakers led 40-34 at the 5:50 mark of the third quarter and the Panthers led 55-49 with 4:23 left in the game. The lead for Davenport was also six points (59-53) with 1:32 to play when the Lakers crawled back into it. CeCe Hacker made three free throws on two different possession to make it a one-possession game with 43 seconds to go. The Panthers could not put the game away as they missed four straight free throws. Grace Bradford was fouled with 23 ticks left and made both free throws to make it 59-58.
Ellie Toney was fouled with 11 seconds to play and made the second of two free throws for a 60-58 lead. LSSU took a timeout to advance the ball to midcourt. They inbounded the ball and Hacker missed a three-point look with three seconds to play which would have won the game.
Lillee Gustafson responded with a season-high 22 points and also notched a double-double with 10 rebounds. Gustafson registered her 19th career double-double and six of the season. She also eclipsed the 20-point mark for the fourth time in her career and the second time this season. Gustafson shot 9-of-17 from the floor and had eight offensive rebounds. As a team, DU had eight second-chance points. Toney chipped in 13 points including 6-of-8 from the charity stripe. Toney also had seven rebounds and one assist in just over 24 minutes on the court.
Isabel Lindo added nine points before fouling out in 31-plus minutes. Bradford led the Lakers with 24 points and 16 rebounds. She went 9-of-9 at the foul line and also had two assists and a steal in 34-plus minutes.
The Panthers have a quick turnaround as they host Saginaw Valley State on Monday (Jan. 22) at 4 PM.
