During the next several weeks, we will continue to reveal our Drury Dozen – the top 12 moments from 2017-18 as voted on by members of the Drury University athletics media relations team that covered a variety of DU sports throughout the year.
The list on this countdown does not reflect the most significant moments from the year, although the biggest games/events certainly played a part in our decision. Ultimately, these were our favorite moments from the previous year and the ones that we will likely always associate with the 2017-18 sports season.
#6 – Lady Panthers rally past UMSL in GLVC semifinals
The Drury Lady Panthers bid to repeat as GLVC champions almost came to an end in the semifinal round of the GLVC tournament in Edwardsville, Illinois on March 3.
Upset-minded UMSL entered the game with a 14-game winning streak and had the game deadlocked 31-31 at halftime. The Tritons seized the lead early in the second half, were up 52-46 at the end of the third quarter, then owned a five-point advantage with just 2:15 remaining in regulation.
Drury seniors Alice Heinzler and Heather Harman, along with the eventual tournament MVP Hailey Diestelkamp responded to make big plays on both ends of the floor down the stretch in the 69-66 win.
The next afternoon, Drury would become the first GLVC repeat champion in women's basketball in 14 years.
Coverage of the Lady Panthers GLVC semifinal game
Video – Game highlights and postgame interviews
Earlier in the countdown
#7 – Andrea Bazzoli win the national title in the 100 breaststroke
#8 – Drury women's tennis wins the GLVC title
#9 – DU men's tennis defeats Ferris St. in the NCAA-II 2nd round
#10 – Chaz Ferguson-Cooper wins the GLVC title in the 400 m. hurdles
#11 - Austin Simms ties a DU record with an 11-strikeout performance
#12 – Trevor Richards makes his MLB debut
