GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Junior
Deyonce Thompson scored a season-high 17 points and provided a scoring spark off the bench in a 68-60 loss to Michigan Tech on Saturday afternoon at the DU Student Center. The nearby East Kentwood High School product has been limited to four games this season due to injury, but showed why she was a Division I transfer talent (Delaware State) against the Huskies. She was able to create her own shot to the tune of seven field goals, including three triples in just over 26 minutes of action. She also had four rebounds and one assist.
The Huskies came out ready to play and started the game on an 8-0 run to force a quick timeout by the Panthers.
Lillee Gustafson got Davenport on the board at the free throw line making one of two attempts with 5:26 left in the opening quarter. The Panthers hung tough despite the slow start and trailed 15-9 after the first quarter. Davenport shot 2-of-14 in the first 10 minutes from the floor and did not make a single two-point basket. Michigan Tech grew the lead to 24-16 at 5:03 of the second quarter, but the Panthers kept lingering around and eventually tied the game at 26 after a Thompson driving layup with 1:18 until halftime. The Huskies went into halftime with a 28-27 lead and much like the first half, they stormed out in the second half with the first six points to lead 34-27. The Panthers again tied it up at 38 with 3:46 left in the quarter on a pull up jumper by Thompson.
The teams were tied at 44 entering the fourth quarter and Davenport would take a 49-47 lead after a Gustafson layup with 8:25 remaining. DU led 57-53 with 5:01 to play after a McCree three-pointer, but the Panthers would score just three more points for the rest of the game. Meanwhile, the Huskies would find their shooting touch when it mattered the most. Isabella Lenz nailed a three-pointer with 1:50 to go to put MTU ahead 61-57. After a turnover by the Panthers, Alyssa Wypych was fouled and made a pair of free throws. McCree again converted from behind the arc to make it 63-60 with 1:07 remaining, but Wypych made her one and only triple with 34 ticks left to seal the game.
Isabel Lindo scored 12 points for the Panthers to join Thompson in double figures. McCree finished with nine points, all on triples in the fourth quarter.
Nevaeh Williams contributed eight points, four steals, four rebounds, and two assists. Davenport finished the game shooting 33.9 percent compared to 43.9 percent by the Huskies, including 61.5 percent (8-of-13) in the fourth quarter.
Davenport (3-9, 1-3) will travel to Lake Superior State (4-8, 1-3) on Thursday, Jan. 9 for a 5:30 PM tip against the Lakers. The all-time series is equaled up at six wins each.
