The Drury Dozen is an annual list of our favorite moments of the year from Drury Athletics. The list is not necessarily the most significant events, but the special games and moments that we'll always associate with 2019-20.
 
The most significant moment, obviously, came on Mar. 11 when the sports world stopped due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That halt robbed us of games and accomplishments that would have likely taken up several spots on this list. 
 
We can take pride in the fact, however, that even though the year was cut short, what happened between Sept. 1, 2019, and Mar. 10, 2020, provided so many great moments in a variety of sports that it was still difficult to trim the list to just 12. 
 

#3- Lady Panthers win their fourth straight GLVC title
 
March 8, 2020 – First Community Bank Arena, Edwardsville, Ill.

Had we known it would be the last time we'd see this team play, we probably would have savored it a little more.

The Drury Lady Panthers won their fourth straight Great Lakes Valley Conference tournament championship on March 8 with a 77-55 win over Lewis. There was more than just the league title on the line that day as Drury needed to win to have a chance at being awarded the number one seed and home court for the NCAA-II Midwest Regional the following week.

The Lady Panthers took care of business in a game that featured little drama. Drury led 18-9 at the end of the first quarter and held the Flyers at bay all afternoon. It wasn't prettiest shooting performance of the year by the Lady Panthers; they went just .355 from the field while Lewis shot .418. But Drury's defense was the difference as it had been throughout the dynasty as they forced 34 turnovers while only committing eight, and had 19 steals to Lewis' one.

Hailey Diestelkamp would be named MVP of the tournament for the third year in a row scoring 25 points in what would be her final game in a Drury uniform. In vintage Diestelkamp fashion, the two-time NCAA-II Player of the Year added 10 rebounds, seven steals, and six assists. Paige Robinson added 22 points. 

For Drury's seniors, it meant they ended their career going 12-0 through four years of the GLVC tournament. It also marked the first time in the league's 41 year history that a women's team captured the conference title for a fourth consecutive season.

While Drury was selected to host the NCAA-II Midwest Regional later that night, the event would be canceled on March 12, less than 24 hours before it was to tipoff due to the coronavirus pandemic.  

Even though the cancelation of the national tournament was a crushing disappointment, there will always be some satisfaction in having this group go out with an undefeated record, and our last image of them in uniform was cutting down the nets as champions. 
 
BOX SCORE
Game Recap
Game Broadcast on GLVCSN (On Demand)
Video Highlights
 
THE DRURY DOZEN 2019-20 COUNTDOWN
DU Dozen #4 – Conley Garrison's 38-point game vs. Illinois Springfield on Overflow the O'
DU Dozen #5 – Kuster and Rennick both advance to NCAA-II wrestling championship
DU Dozen #6 – DU women's swimming & diving wins fourth straight GLVC title
DU Dozen #7 – Drury volleyball takes down #12 Rockhurst
DU Dozen #8 – DU triathlon wins Central Regional Qualifier
DU Dozen #9 – Lady Panthers rally for road win at Bellarmine
DU Dozen #10 – Panthers beat Pittsburg State in overtime in Las Vegas
DU Dozen #11 – Jamie O'Brien's OT goal gives Drury a road win at Lewis
DU Dozen #12 – Tom Tewes sets team record with 13 strikeouts
 
2019 Drury Dozen
2018 Drury Dozen
 
 
#allweDUiswin