SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Drury Lady Panthers downed William Woods in the lone exhibition of the preseason, 98-46, in the O'Reilly Family Event Center on Tuesday evening.
 
A balanced scoring attack for the Lady Panthers allowed for 20 or more points in each quarter. In what would have been a career-high scoring night for Sara Mendel, with 20, she led Drury while pulling down eight rebounds.
 
There were two others in double figures, Jazz Gray and Talia Norman. Gray scored 17 in 29 minutes of play, while freshman Norman added 15 in her role behind Mendel.
 
Jersee Wren for William Woods scored 20 in 29 minutes. The only other double-digit scorer for the Owls was Mariah Prince with ten.
 
Head Coach Kaci Bailey Postgame Comments
"It was great to get back in the O' and let our newcomers experience what it is like to play here," commented coach Bailey postgame on DU All-Access, "I liked what I saw on both ends of the floor and how we were able to execute."
 
Game Points

• The win marks Kaci Bailey's second exhibition win in her time at Drury.
• Nine of the 12 Lady Panthers who played scored at least two baskets.
• Drury led wire to wire.
• As a team, Drury grabbed 47 rebounds to Williams Woods' 26.
• The Lady Panthers' three-point defense held the Owls to 16% from beyond the arc.
• No Drury player played over 29 minutes.
• Drury scored 56 of their 98 points in the paint (57 percent).

 
First Half

• Jazz Gray started the scoring in the first half and ended the half with layups.
• Gray recorded two last-second buckets to end each of the first two quarters.
• The Lady Panthers raced to a 7-0 lead before William Woods knocked down their first bucket.
• In the first quarter, Drury led by as much as 11 points.
• Sage Stratton recorded her first make to start the second quarter and extend Drury's lead to 14 points.
• Stratton's basket kick-started a 12-5 run for Drury over the next three minutes, including seven points from Jazz Gray in that span.
• Drury ended the first half with a 49-22 lead.
• 32 of the Lady Panthers' first-half points were in the paint.

 
Second Half

• William Woods started the third quarter with a made third, their only time scoring first in a quarter in the game.
• Sara Mendel answered back within 15 seconds on a layup from Rhi Gibbons.
• Over the next five minutes, Drury scored 21 points from six different players.
• The final ten minutes were played by newcomers to Drury: Flora Lukow, Charlee Bailey, Talia Norman, Brooklyn Owens, and Sage Stratton.
• The five produced 22 points while allowing only ten.
• In the final quarter, Ellie Wells grabbed seven rebounds.
• The newcomers' defense did not allow a field goal in the final 2:48.

 
Up Next
The Lady Panthers open the regular season on Sunday afternoon at Ferris State before travelling to Saginaw Valley State for a Tuesday morning tip.
 
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