Alice Heinzler scored 24 points to lead five Lady Panthers in double-figures as Drury fought past a scrappy Columbia College team for a 95-88 victory in the exhibition opener for DU Tuesday night at the O'Reilly Family Event Center.

Annie Armstrong added 13 points, Addy Roller had 12 points and six assists, Brook Duncan added 11 points and Josie Young had 10 for the Lady Panthers, who led 38-36 at the half and pulled out to a 67-60 after three quarters before the Cougars matched them in the final period with 28 points each.

Heinzler made 7 of 10 shots - including all three of her 3-point tries - and Young, a freshman from Marionville, hit 5 of 7 shots off the bench for her 10 points in just nine minutes of playing time as Drury made 54 percent (32 of 59) from the field.

Corri Hamilton had 28 points and 14 rebounds to lead NAIA member Columbia, a 22-win team from last season and one coached by a DU nemesis throughout her own playing career, for Quincy University star Jessica Keller.

The Lady Panthers, attempting to replace 14-plus rebounds per game from the graduated duo of Sanayika Shields and Shelby White, were outrebounded 36-29 by the Cougars. Hannah Dressler had seven boards and Heinzler added five for Drury.

The Lady Panthers, ranked preseason No. 10 nationally by D-II Bulletin, are idle until playing their final exhibition game when Lyon College visits The O' for a 5:30 p.m. tipoff on November 13, part of a women's/men's doubleheader with the Panthers, who play Southwestern College in their opener at 7:45 that night.