SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - The Davenport women's basketball team were without the services of their top two scorers (
Ellie Toney and
Jaci Walker) who have combined for 22.9 points per game this season on Thursday night in a 60-58 loss at Lake Superior State. The rest of the Panthers battled to the very end but dropped their third straight game and slipped to 3-10 overall and 1-4 in the GLIAC.
The first half was all it could have been for the Panthers as they built a 31-23 lead. Lake Superior State shot just 30.8 percent from the floor and Davenport countered by shooting 46.2 percent, connecting on 12-of-26 from the floor.
Lillee Gustafson was able to score eight points on 4-of-7 shooting in the opening half to lead the Panthers.
The second half was not as perfect as the Lakers would outscore the Panthers 37-27 winning the third and fourth quarter by five points apiece. Davenport would build a 37-25 lead with 7:52 left in the third quarter after an
Isabel Lindo basket. LSSU used a 10-2 run over the final 2:43 of the third quarter to trail 46-43 heading into the final stanza.
The Lakers shot 45 percent in the third quarter compared to 40 percent for the Panthers and Breah Golden came to life for LSSU with 11 points on 5-of-8 shooting in the third quarter. Lake Superior State led for just 9:33 of game time, but took the lead for the first time since it was 23-22 with 4:36 left in the second quarter, with a basket by CeCe Hacker to make it 52-50 with 6:03 left in the game.
The Lakers would not give up the lead for the rest of the contest, but Davenport did make things interesting down the stretch. Gustafson split at the free throw line to make it 60-58 with 33 seconds to play. LSSU then committed a turnover with three seconds left to give DU one final chance.
Nevaeh Williams had a last-second attempt from three-point land, but it did not fall.
Deyonce Thompson led the Panthers with 15 points and grabbed eight rebounds in 30-plus minutes. Gustafson recorded a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. It was the second double-double of the season and 23rd of her career.
Hannah Schroeder led the team with four assists and had no turnovers. She also scored seven points and grabbed three rebounds.
The road trip continues on Saturday as DU visits Ferris State for a 1 PM tip in Big Rapids.
