Drury Lady Panthers Game Preview
#3 Drury Lady Panthers (11-1, 4-0) vs. McKendree Bearcats (6-5, 3-1) 
Thur., Jan. 5, 2023 – 5:45 – O'Reilly Family Event Center   
 
Tickets
$12 (kids 12 and under FREE)
Order Online
417-873-7000
 
Promotion
Educator Appreciation Night
Springfield Public Employees are FREE
(enter coupon SPSR12 to order online 4 free tickets)  
 
Live Coverage
Radio: KICK 92.3 FM / 1340 AM
Audio: www.923kick.com, TuneIn app
Live Video: GLVCSN.com/drury
Live Stats: drurypanthers.com
 
Lady Panthers return to GLVC schedule to face McKendree at home
The Drury Lady Panthers return to play for the first time since Dec. 17 as they host McKendree on Thursday at 5:45 pm in the O'Reilly Family Event Center.
 
Drury is ranked third in this week's NCAA-II coaches' poll and brings in an 11-1 record with a 4-0 mark in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The Lady Panthers have won seven straight, dating back to a Nov. 28 win at Missouri-St. Louis.
 
Drury is led by Kaylee DaMitz-Holt, who is averaging 18.3 points. The graduate student out of Skyline HS and transfer from Pittsburg St. averaged 27 points and shot .630 from the field in the Lady Panthers' last two games, Dec. 16-17, against Eckerd and Florida Southern. DaMitz-Holt ranks third in the GLVC in scoring with her 18.3 ppg average.
 
McKendree comes to Springfield having won three of their four conference games and is 6-5 with a 3-1 record in the GLVC. The Bearcats have not played since a Dec. 19 win at home over Culver-Stockton, 70-59. McKendree's 3-1 league record marks their best start in the conference play since they joined the GLVC in 2012 and, after going 2-16 in the league last year, they have already surpassed last year's conference win total.
 
McKendree's defense ranks third in the GLVC, allowing only 60.7 points per game and they lead the league in guarding the three-point line allowing just a .273 percentage behind the arc.
 
Following Thursday's game, the Lady Panthers play at home again on Saturday against Indianapolis. Tipoff for the game is at 3 pm in the O'Reilly Family Event Center.
 
All-Time Series 
Drury has won all 14 games against McKendree in the all-time series. The Lady Panthers won last year's game 111-55 at the O'Reilly Family Event Center on Feb. 12.
 
Last Meeting
Drury 111 McKendree 55 (Feb. 12, 2022 at DU)
 -- Paige Robinson came off of the bench and scored 26 points going 10 for 11 from the field and 5 of 6 from three-point range
-- Alana Findley went 8 for 9 from the floor and scored 18 points and added 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks and 3 steals
-- Drury led 31-11 after the first quarter
-- The Lady Panthers scored at least 31 points in the first three quarters
-- Clare Breden led McKendree with 16 points
-- Drury shot 61 percent in the game going 43 for 71 from the field
 
Last Game
Drury 97 Florida Southern 74 (Dec. 17 at FSC) 
 -- Drury's 97 points is a season-high
-- Kaylee DaMitz-Holt led the Lady Panthers with 20 points and 4 assists
-- Alana Findley and Allie Clevenger both added 16 points
 -- Drury shot 53 percent from the field going 35 for 66 and was 9 for 18 from three-point range
-- The Lady Panthers forced 24 turnovers
 
Drury stays at number three nationally 
The Drury Lady Panthers are still ranked number three this week in the latest NCAA-II women's basketball coaches poll. Ashland (14-0) took over the number one position in the poll this week after Grand Valley State (12-1) suffered their first loss of the year in a 68-62 setback at home to Great Lakes Valley Conference member Lewis on Saturday. The Lakers dropped from number one to fourth in this week's poll.
 
The week's poll marks the 142nd consecutive week the Lady Panthers have been ranked in the top 25, the longest such streak in the nation. It is also their 80th straight week to be ranked in the top 10.
 
Alana Findley climbing all-time Drury charts
Drury senior Alana Findley ranks among the program's all-time leaders in several categories. She is 14th all-time in rebounds and is closing in on 1,000 career points.
 
Rebounds
1. Hailey Diestelkamp (2016-20) 1,101
--
11. Bethanie Funderburk (2010-14) 518
12. Abby Bracker (2009-13) 512
13. Daejah Bernard (2016-20) 508
14. Alana Findley (2019-present) 507
15. Paige Robinson (2018-22) 451
 
Steals
1. Kara Rutledge (2002-06) 423
--
11. Allison Regier (2003-06) 176
12. Alana Findley (2019-present) 162
 
Points
1. Hailey Diestelkamp (2016-20) 2,321
--
19. Ja'Nell Jones (2007-11) 1,056
20. Paige Wilson (2013-17) 1,019
  Alana Findley (2019-present) 944
 
QUICK FACTS
Records
#3 Drury: 11-1, 4-0
McK: 6-5, 3-1
 
Head Coaches
Drury: Amy Eagan (3rd yr., 67-8/14th yr., 254-150)
McK: Keri Kerkoff (8^th yr., 76-121)   
 
Streak
Drury: Won 7
McK: Won 1
 
Last Five Games
Drury: 5-0
McK: 4-1
 
All-Time Record
Drury 14-0
 
2021-22 Series
Drury 111 McKendree 55 (Feb. 12, 2022 at DU) 
 
Next Game
Drury vs Indianapolis -- Sat., Jan. 7
3 pm -- O'Reilly Family Event Center 
 
#allweDUiswin