SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Oasis Hotel and Convention Center Thanksgiving Classic ended on Wednesday night with a Drury Lady Panthers overtime loss to Arkansas Fort Smith, 74-65.
 
Ten seconds into the game, Fort Smith scored the game's first points. Rhi Gibbons answered shortly after, setting the tone for the first quarter.
 
A back-and-forth first ten minutes had the largest lead reach four points before ending with Drury ahead 17-12.
 
Both teams continued to trade buckets into the second quarter before a Kaylee King three-pointer extended the Lady Panthers' lead to five with 38 seconds to play in the half. The Lions made two free throws before the break to cut the Drury lead to 36-33 entering the half.
 
Fort Smith started the third quarter on an 8-3 run to regain the lead a little over three minutes into the second half, 41-39.
 
The Lady Panthers kept it close entering the fourth quarter, trailing by two, 52-50.
 
Raegan Halliday took the lead back for Drury three minutes into the fourth quarter, but it did not last long. Three layups for Fort Smith took back the lead for the Lions.
 
A seven-point quarter from Rhi Gibbons allowed Drury to stay within striking distance and eventually take a two-point lead with two minutes left. Despite the late lead, Fort Smith tied it with a minute left at 63 to force overtime.
 
UAFS' Jah'Mareah Linville took over the overtime period, outscoring the Lady Panthers herself, 6 to 2. The Lions clicked on all cylinders to win the overtime period 11 to 2 and the game 74-65.
 
GAME NOTES

• The Lady Panthers were outshot in the game 42.6% to 37%.
• Similar to yesterday's game against Missouri Southern, Drury struggled on the points in the paint (34 to 24).
• Drury outrebounded Fort Smith on the offensive glass, nine to seven. Fort Smith won the total rebound battle 42 to 39.
• There were 18 total lead changes in the game, and 11 different points at which the game was tied.
• Fort Smith held the lead for 23 minutes compared to Drury's 11 and a half.
• The third quarter proved detrimental for the Lady Panthers once again. Drury has been outscored in every third quarter this season. The Lions scored five more points than Drury out of the locker room.
• The Lady Panthers were 0-5 from the field in overtime, their only points coming from a pair of Audra Pasakarnis free throws.
• Sara Mendel once again led Drury in scoring with 15. She was one rebound away from securing her second straight double-double.
• Kaylee King scored a season high 14 points on 4-9 shooting from three.
• Rhi Gibbons also added 14.
• Teague Muncy pulled down a career high eight rebounds and four points.
• The Lady Panthers are now 1-1 in overtime games this season and 2-2 under Kaci Bailey.
• Drury's all-time record in the Thanksgiving Classic drops to 21-5.
• It was the first time in the 12-year history of the event that the Lady Panthers had gone 1-1 in back-to-back classics.
• The win for Fort Smith was the program's first win against Drury. The Lions are now 1-7 against the Lady Panthers and 1-2 against Drury in the Thanksgiving Classic.
• The game was Drury's fifth of eight in 21 days and only scheduled back-to-back of the season.
• The Lady Panthers and Lions will meet again on December 20 in Fort Smith.

 
UP NEXT
The Lady Panthers open up Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) play on Monday, December 1, at Southwest Baptist for a 5:30 pm tipoff.
 
FOLLOW THE LADY PANTHERS
For all the latest information on Drury athletics, please visit drurypanthers.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Panthers on Instagram, X, and Facebook