Saginaw Valley State 68, Davenport 51 - (Jan. 22)
The Davenport women’s basketball team was trying to make it back-to-back wins in the GLIAC on Monday afternoon. The Panthers welcomed Saginaw Valley State in a make-up game that was postponed due to the winter weather on Jan. 13. Saginaw Valley State came out with a full-court press from the tip and did not let up for the entire game. That type of pressure seemed to wear down the Panthers stamina and in the end it was a 68-51 decision in favor of the Cardinals. The first and fourth quarters belonged to the Panthers as they outscored the Cardinals. The advantage was 14-13 after the first quarter and 16-14 in the fourth quarter. However, the middle two quarters were a greater advantage for SVSU who outscored the Panthers 41-21.

The Cardinals finished the game shooting 49 percent which was one percentage point off their season high as a team. SVSU connected on 25-of-51 from the floor and also were 15-of-17 from the free throw line. Davenport shot 36.4 percent (20-of-55) from the floor including 7-of-20 from the arc. They did not get to the foul line much finishing 4-of-8. It was a tough and physical game with 20 fouls against DU compared to 12 for the Cardinals. The Cardinals were able to outscore the Panthers 38-24 in the paint and 21-12 off turnovers.

Aleshia Jones led all players with 22 points for the Cardinals. She went 10-of-10 from the foul line and also had three rebounds and two steals. The Panthers were led by Ellie Toney with 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting. She grabbed five rebounds and also had one assist and one blocked shot. Makenna Bryant added eight points off the bench connecting on two triples and two free throws in 16-plus minutes. Jaci Walker added seven points on 3-of-4 shooting off the bench in 10-plus minutes.

MAKENNA BRYANT
The senior shooting guard scored a career-high 21 points on Jan. 11 against Wayne State. She tied a season-high with four three-pointers and has made multiple three-pointers in three of her last four games.
LILLEE GUSTAFSON
The junior center is coming off a season-low five points against Saginaw Valley State. The interesting part is that she had a season-high 22 points at Lake Superior State in the previous contest last Saturday. It was just the fourth time this season that she failed to score in double figures and the second time at home.
ELLIE TONEY
The sophomore forward has scored in double figures in three of her last four games including back-to-back 13-point performances against LSSU and SVSU. Toney has made at least one triple in five straight games and during that span is shooting 11-of-20 (.550) behind the arc.

Parkside currently occupies fourth place in the GLIAC standings nearing the halfway point of the conference schedule. The Rangers had their four-game win streak snapped last Saturday against Northern Michigan at home (83-76). Sheridan Flauger led Parkside with 18 points before fouling out in 29 minutes. She went 10-of-12 at the free throw line to go along with three rebounds and two steals. Grace Lomen added 11 points off the bench in 21 minutes going 5-of-5 from the floor. Lillie Petersen led the Rangers with 10 rebounds and recorded one of the team’s seven blocked shots. 

The Panthers are searching for their first win in the all-time series against Parkside. Of the eight losses, DU has been within five points on three occasions. Last season, Parkside won 80-66 on Jan. 7 in Kenosha and 81-68 on Jan. 26 in Grand Rapids. Mary Liedel had 18 points in the first meeting on the road including 7-of-10 from the floor. Lillee Gustafson recorded a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Paty Gallasova scored 20 points to go with seven assists and six rebounds for Parkside. Flauger scored 14 points in the second meeting with five rebounds and two steals. Alexa Kolnitys had a career-high 23 points for the Panthers.

Purdue Northwest is hoping to end a three-game losing streak heading into this week. All three losses came at home. They have Grand Valley State on Thursday before coming to DU on Saturday.  The Pride are led by Dash Shaw (17.1 PPG) and Mercedes Simmons (16 PPG). They form the highest scoring duo in the GLIAC and are second and third respectively in scoring. The senior tandem also one-two in rebounding on their team. Simmons averages 9.4 rebounds (2nd in the GLIAC) while Shaw averages 5.3 boards per contest.

Davenport is looking to break a four-game losing streak against the Pride. DU last won back on Jan. 23, 2021 in Hammond by a final score of 76-67. In the last meeting back on Jan. 28, 2023 in Grand Rapids, DU fell 66-53. Shaw and Simmons combined for 35 points and 18 rebounds.

Complete Game Notes

Thursday, Jan. 25 vs Parkside - 5:30 PM

Live Video (FloSports $)

Live Stats

Saturday, Jan. 27 vs Purdue Northwest - 1:00 PM

Live Video (FloSports $)

Live Stats