GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Anna Axtell hit three 3-pointers in the opening minutes, and five Panthers scored in double figures as Davenport opened the season with a 99-35 win over the University of Olivet on Tuesday at the Davenport Student Center.
Axtell's early threes helped the Panthers build a 17-4 lead. Davenport went 7-for-9 from beyond the arc in the first quarter and turned eight Olivet turnovers into 14 points to take a 33-10 lead. The Panthers held the Comets to two field goals and blocked five shots in the second quarter, extending the lead to 49-15 at halftime.
Tangee Gagau knocked down two 3-pointers in the third as Davenport shot 11-for-19 from the floor and scored 30 points in the quarter. The Panthers added five steals in the fourth and held Olivet scoreless over the final 6:47. Davenport finished with 18 steals, 37 points off turnovers and 53 bench points.
"We've really been harping about being disciplined in our traps and letting the off-ball people get the steals," head coach Shonda Sanders said. "We've been getting better at it each game, and I saw a lot of good things today."
Axtell led Davenport with 15 points, and Jada McCree added 12. Both made four 3-pointers, and McCree recorded three steals. Maddie Geers had 10 points, eight rebounds, three blocks and two steals, while freshman Aubree Allen posted a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds, six of them on the offensive glass.
Kayla Covington added 11 points, five rebounds and two blocks.
"One of the things with Kayla was rebounding and running the floor," Sanders said. "No one could jump with her when she's in the right position to get a rebound."
The Panthers set a series high with 99 points and improved to 5-1 all-time against Olivet. It was Davenport's first win with at least 90 points since a 91-43 victory over Grace Christian on Nov. 19, 2019.
Up Next
Davenport hosts Lewis on Thursday, Nov. 19, at 6:30 p.m. at the Davenport Student Center before traveling to Tiffin on Saturday, Nov. 21, for a 1 p.m. tipoff.
