Drury University Athletics

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.-- The Drury Lady Panthers were provided the type of test accorded to the number one ranked team in the nation from Minnesota-Duluth on Monday night, before pulling away and claiming an 80-68 home-opening win over the Bulldogs at the O'Reilly Family Event Center.
 
The ballclubs, both participants in last year's NCAA Division II national tournament, were tied eight times on the night, including 34-34 at the half and 54-54 at the end of three quarters.
 
The outcome was in question throughout most of the game and was still in doubt until sophomore Paige Robinson, who finished as the game's leading scorer, drained a deep three-point shot to give Drury a six-point cushion with one minute remaining and free throw shooting sealed the win down the stretch. But it was a challenge the Lady Panthers had expected.
 
"The reason and logic in scheduling this team was that they won their conference tournament and made it to the national tournament (last year), so we can learn a lot about ourselves and how we're going to respond in games like this," said Drury head coach Molly Miller.
 
After breezing through an opening sweep of three games in California to kick off the season, the Lady Panthers got a quality test from the visitors from Minnesota, who overcame Drury's high-pressure defense and pressed the nation's top-ranked Division II program. The Bulldogs managed to keep pace with the Lady Panthers despite committing 27 turnovers and led 24-17 after one quarter. They kept the contest close with both long-range makes and inside scoring, but Drury was able the withstand the challenge and emerged a perfect 4-0 on the new season.
 
"I think every team we face this year has nothing to lose, and they're going to come here and play us hard, and that's really good for us," added Miller.
 
Robinson's 22 points topped Drury's scoring, with senior Hailey Diestelkamp adding 17, while junior Emily Parker finished with 13 and freshman Mia Henderson chipped in 12. Sophomore Brooke Olson with 17 points paced the Bulldogs, who now are 0-3 on the season. 
 
Drury outrebounded UMD 33-31 for the game and hit 18 of 23 free throw attempts, while the Bulldogs made just 7 of 12 from the line.
 
The Lady Panthers are idle for the next two weeks before hosting The Oasis Hotel & Convention Center Thanksgiving Classic, November 29-30th at the O'Reilly Family Event Center.
 
 
#allweDUiswin
 
 
tm