Jan. 27, 2010

Box Score

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The #1 ranked Lady Panthers were upset by cross-town rival Cornerstone on Wednesday night as they fell 65-54 to the Golden Eagles. DU, who is now 21-2 overall, will have Saturday off in the rotation and will be in action next against UM Dearborn at home on Wednesday, February 3.

The opening half started out quickly for the Panthers after losing the opening tip as Kristi Boehm (Kent City, Mich.) swiped the first pass and took it the length of the floor for an easy layup. DU would eventually push the lead to 7-2 after a deep shot from Carrie Grubius (Kalamazoo, Mich.) and a layup from Janelle Bagneski (Lake Mills, Wis.).

The Golden Eagles then controlled the play for the remainder of the first half as they used many timely shots and a hot hand from behind the arc to extend their lead to double-digits at 23-13 with just over 7:00 to play.

The lead would grow to as many as 11 but Abby Neff (LaGrange, Ind.) took the game on her shoulders and scored five straight points to bring DU within six with just under 2:00 to play in the first half. After one free throw by DU and a late basket by the Golden Eagles, Cornerstone took a 32-25 lead into the break.

The seven point halftime deficit would be the largest of the year for the Lady Panthers as they previously trailed at the break in only four other games but none larger than two points.

Starting the second half, DU got quick baskets from Kallie Benike (Campbellsport, Wis.) and Jeannie Closson to climb the Panthers within two at 32-30 but again CU would pull ahead with outside shooting and free throws.

The lead would grow back to nine points (47-38) at the 11:31 mark and then two more baskets by the Golden Eagles gave them their largest lead of the game at 13 (51-38) with just over 10 minutes to play.

DU then went on a 7-1 run over the next three minutes to pull within seven as Kallie Benike knocked down a shot from behind the arc and Head Coach Mark Youngs quickly called a timeout to set his defense.

The lead would hover around that same mark as Cornerstone continued to take time off of the clock but every time DU looked as if they would go on a run, CU hit either two free-throws or shots with less than five seconds on the shot clock to remain in the lead.

DU would get no closer than eight for the remainder of the game as they dropped their first game since a 74-72 setback to then #4 Hastings on November 6.

The 54 points scored by Davenport were their lowest of the season and 36 below their season average of 90.7. The Lady Panthers finished just 34% from the field while allowing 14 offensive rebounds.

Leading the scoring for DU was sophomore Abby Neff who went for 14 points on 6/12 shooting off the bench. Junior Kallie Benike was the only other Panther in double-digits with 13 and Jeannie Closson (Parchment, Mich.) pulled down a team high 6 rebounds.

#1 Davenport will have Saturday off in the conference rotation as they begin the second half of WHAC play on Wednesday, February 3 against UM Dearborn at the Student Center.