GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Junior center
Lillee Gustafson recorded her 20th career double-double and seventh of the season with 14 points and 14 rebounds in a 62-57 loss to Purdue Northwest on Saturday afternoon at the Student Center. Gustafson scored in double figures for the 40th time in her career and 14th time this season. She also recorded double digits rebounds in a game for the 31st time in her career and eighth this season. Gustafson also tied a season-high with three assists and went 10-of-12 at the free throw line to tie her career high for free throws made. The last time she had 10 made free throws was also against the Pride back on Jan. 5, 2023.
The Panthers had their chances to pull out the win as the top two players for the Pride fouled out. Dash Shaw got her fifth foul with 3:24 left in the game and Mercedes Simmons left with her fifth foul with 55 seconds left. Simmons exited with the Pride holding on to a 59-54 lead.
Isabel Lindo came down and hit a big three-pointer at the top of the arc to make it 59-57 with 49 seconds left. The Panthers got a stop on defense initially but the offensive rebound and putback by Kylie Schmidt with 20 seconds to go made it 61-57. After a timeout, DU was called for traveling with 14 seconds to play and then fouled Cherrelle Newsom who split at the free throw line.
Ellie Toney tried a three-pointer with five seconds left which missed and the Pride dribbled out the rest of the clock.
The game featured two ties and one lead change as the Pride led for 37:24 of game time. The Pride owned a 36-24 advantage in points in the paint. Davenport got 22 points off their bench.
Makenna Bryant scored nine points and connected on 2-of-3 from the arc. She also led the team with two steals. Toney was the other Panther in double figures with 13 points. It was the 16th time in her career and eighth this season with double digit points. Davenport finished 33.3 percent from the floor but did shoot well at the free throw line going 14-of-20. Simmons led the Pride with 24 points and also had a double-double with 12 rebounds. Shaw scored 10 points going 3-of-5 from the floor.
The Panthers will have a week off before they take the court again. The team will host current No. 5 Grand Valley State on Feb. 3 beginning at 1 PM.
