NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The second-ranked Drury Lady Panthers suffered their first loss of the season as Kentucky Wesleyan prevailed 76-75 on the second day of the Pops Duncan Classic in Nashville, Tennessee on Saturday.
 
Drury slipped to 4-1 while Kentucky Wesleyan went to 2-0. The loss is Drury's earlier setback in a season since 2017-18 when they lost their third game of the year when they dropped a contest at Southwest Baptist.
 
The Lady Panthers controlled the first half and led by as much as 19 in the second quarter, but Kentucky Wesleyan closed the first half with a 9-1 run, and sustained that momentum into the third quarter, then closed the gap to 57-55 going into the final period.
 
The lead went back-and-forth in the fourth quarter, but Drury could not take advantage of KWU going 1 for 6 from the free-throw line and committing a turnover in the last 60 seconds.
 
Azia Lynch tied the game at 75-75 with a lay-up with 15 seconds remaining, but Kentucky Wesleyan drew foul with six seconds left, and Jordyn Barga sank one of two foul shots to give her team a 76-75 lead. Payton Richards missed a three-point shot at the buzzer as Drury fell short by one.
 
Kaylee DaMitz led Drury with 14 points. Lynch added 12 points, and Alana Findley contributed 10 points and eight rebounds.
 
Kentucky Wesleyan shot 53 percent from the field, hitting 30 of 57 shots. Tahlia Walton led her team with 23 points, while Cali Nolot had 22. KWU went 18-6 last season and earned a bid to the NCAA-II Tournament.
 
Drury returns home on Tuesday to host 18^th ranked Minnesota Duluth. Before the game, the Lady Panthers will honor last year's National Runner-Up team and retire the jerseys of former All-Americans Hailey Diestelkamp and Daejah Bernard at halftime. The first 500 fans through the doors will receive a commemorative t-shirt honoring Diestelkamp and Bernard courtesy HHM Facility Management. For tickets, call 417-873-7000.
 
 
 
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