Malone 81, Davenport 65 (Nov. 23)
Jaci Walker scored a career-high 21 points as the Davenport University women’s basketball team fell 81-65 to Malone on Saturday afternoon at Osborn Hall. The senior is averaging 11.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and one assist per game this season while shooting over 51 percent from the floor, all marking career-bests.
Five minutes into the game, Isabel Lindo drove the baseline and made a reverse layup off the window to put the Panthers (0-5, 0-0 GLIAC) on top of the Pioneers (5-1, 0-0 G-MAC) 9-7. After falling behind by seven in the opening minute of the second quarter, Walker sunk a pair of free throws to bring DU back within five (24-19). However, Malone ended the half on a 17-5 run to take a 45-28 advantage into halftime.
Heading into the final quarter of play trailing by 21 (61-40), Lindo scored five points in the opening 36 seconds of the fourth quarter to bring the Panthers within 16 (61-45). With 1:26 remaining, Kayla Covington drained a pair of free throws to trim the deficit to 13 (75-62), but it was too late for a DU comeback, as the Pioneers made a pair of three-pointers down the stretch to close out the game.
Lindo finished with 12 points for the second consecutive game for the Panthers, nine of which came in the final quarter of play. Nevaeh Williams added 11 points and three assists for DU, while Ellie Toney chipped in with nine points, two rebounds, a block and a steal.
The Panthers were without two-time All-GLIAC performer Lillee Gustafson, who had played in 88 consecutive games for DU. It was the first game the senior has missed since joining the squad ahead of the 2021-22 season.
Davenport 88, Great Lakes Christian 48 (Nov. 26)
The Davenport women’s basketball team rallied around each other as just seven players dressed on Tuesday night in the team’s first win of the season by a margin of 88-48 over Great Lakes Christian at the DU Student Center. It was the first meeting between the teams and the Panthers used a consistent effort throughout all four quarters on offense. They scored at least 20 points in each quarter and took care of the ball. DU finished with 23 assists on 35 field goals and committed just 13 turnovers. Great Lakes Christian was forced into 26 turnovers as the Panthers led 33-10 in points off turnovers for the contest.
Davenport led 20-9 at the end of the first quarter and shot 39.1 percent from the floor. They increased their field goal percentage to 47.4 percent in the second quarter and took a 44-22 lead into the halftime locker room. The third quarter was their most efficient of the game as Davenport shot 9-of-17 from the floor. The Panthers then finished in the fourth quarter shooting 50 percent (8-of-16) and connected on four three-pointers. DU made 10 triples for the game including three from Nevaeh Williams on four attempts.
Ellie Toney finished one point shy of her career high with a team-high 21 points on 9-of-14 shooting from the floor. She also set a career high with 16 rebounds, which is tied for sixth most in a game in Davenport history. Toney also tied a career high with four steals and recorded three assists and two blocked shots in 34-plus minutes. Laynie Meredith scored in double figures for the first time finishing with 12 points. She also led the team with five assists and tied for the team lead with four steals in 29-plus minutes. Jaci Walker added 13 points on 6-of-11 shooting. Hannah Schroeder scored a career-high 12 points including her time at Northwood University. She also had a career-high nine rebounds and a career-high four assists in 30-plus minutes. Williams scored a career-high 13 points and tied a career high with four assists. Isabel Lindo contributed nine points and Jada McCree added eight points and a career-high three steals.
