HONOLULU, Hawaii – A hot-shooting third quarter gave Drury an 11-point lead going into the fourth period, and the Lady Panthers needed every bit of the cushion as they held off Montana State-Billings for a 74-69 win on Saturday in the first game of the Oahu Christmas Classic in Honolulu, Hawaii.
 
The seventh-ranked Lady Panthers improved to 10-1 and gave the Yellowjackets their first loss of the season dropping them to 9-1.
 
Drury had a 33-32 lead at halftime but went on an 11-1 run in the first three minutes of the third period to go ahead 44-33.
 
Drury went 9 for 17 from the field during the third quarter and hit 4 of their 8 three-point tries as they outscored MSU-Billings 27-17 in the period to go up 60-49 heading into final 10 minutes.
 
The Yellowjackets rallied, however, and pulled within three points of the lead on a three-pointer from Lexi Prevost with 12 seconds remaining.
 
Drury's Alice Heinzler hit two free throws moments later to put the game out of reach. 
 
"It's a huge win for us," said Drury head coach Molly Miller. "(MSU-Billings) has two very good players with Alisha Breen and Rylee Kane who are both four-year starters. Our pressure was able to give their team some fits at times, and that helped as they had 25 turnovers." 
 
Drury guard Heather Harman led all scorers with season-high 24 points. The senior from Walnut Grove was 6 for 12 from three-point range, and she matched a season-high with seven assists.
 
"Heather really lit it up today," added Miller. "She had a rhythm going, and she had a good all-around game when you add in the seven assists."
 
Hailey Diestelkamp also had a season-high with 19 points, and she added a team-leading nine rebounds.
 
"Hailey had some huge defensive rebounds for us in the second half," said Miller. "It was good to see her be aggressive today."
 
Rylee Kane led the Yellowjackets with 20 points. Alisha Breen had a double-double for MSU-Billings with 18 points and 11 rebounds.
 
Drury outscored the Yellowjackets 25-14 in points-off-turnovers which proved key as MSU-Billings made 50 percent of their shots going 25 for 50 from the field. The Lady Panthers shot 43 percent going 27 for 63 and 9 for 29 from three-point range.
 
Both teams struggled from the free throw line as Drury went just 11 for 22 while the Yellowjackets made 13 of their 22 tries.
 
Drury was without guard Payton Richards who missed the game with a leg injury.
 
The Lady Panthers play their second game in Hawaii on Sunday as they take on Notre Dame (Ohio) at 3 p.m. (central) in Honolulu, Hawaii. The Falcons are 8-3, and Drury will be the third ranked team they have faced this season.
 
##