SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Drury Lady Panthers dropped their season opener, 68-66, to Fort Hays State as part of the first game of the GLVC/MIAA Crossover at the O'Reilly Family Event Center.
Drury raced out to an early four-point lead, 7-3, behind four points from
Jazz Gray in the opening four minutes of play.
The Tigers kept it within striking distance in the opening 10 minutes, cutting the game to as close as one point, but ultimately trailed after the first quarter, 17-12.
The Lady Panthers' lead grew to as much as nine points, 21-12, just over a minute into the second quarter.
Fort Hays rattled off six straight points to bring the game back within a possession. Drury and Fort Hays traded the next five baskets before Drury finished the first half on a 10-1 run over the final 4:54 to take a 35-24 advantage into the locker room.
The third quarter was a back-and-forth affair. The Tigers cut the lead to seven points before Drury pushed it back to 10. Fort Hays won the quarter 20-19, leaving the Tigers facing a 54-44 deficit entering the final quarter.
An 18-6 run for Fort Hays to open the fourth quarter put the Tigers up 62-60 with four minutes remaining in regulation, giving them their first lead since the score was 3-2.
Following the final media timeout of the game, the Tigers fought off Drury, trading baskets as the Fort Hays comeback was completed, defeating the Lady Panthers 68-66.
GAME NOTES
- Fort Hays outshot Drury 39.7% (27-68) to 39.3% (24-61).
- The Tigers also converted on three-point shots at a higher rate, 31.3% (5-16), compared to Drury's 17.6% (3-17).
- Fort Hays outrebounded Drury 42-37, with 15 of those 42 rebounds coming on the offensive end.
- Fort Hays scored 40 points in the paint to Drury's 34.
- Drury forced 16 turnovers, recording eight steals.
- Drury led for 33:44, while Fort Hays led for 2:57.
- The Lady Panthers' lead grew as large as 11 points, while Fort Hays led by no more than two.
- Jazz Gray scored 17 points, including 11 in the first quarter.
- The 17 points marked a career high for Gray.
- Drury was led by Rhi Gibbons with 21 points.
- Sara Mendel collected her first double-double of the season with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
- Mendel played only four minutes in the first half after picking up two early fouls.
- Mendel now has 27 career double-doubles, tying Melanie Oliver for the second most in program history.
- With 11 rebounds, Mendel moved into fifth place on Drury's career rebounding list.
- Mendel blocked three shots, increasing her career total to 76, the second most in program history.
- Raegan Halliday made her first career start, pulling down six rebounds and recording three assists.
- Samantha Becker scored four points and grabbed nine rebounds in her collegiate debut.
- Kailyn Hanni led Fort Hays with 20 points.
- Olivia Mortensen recorded a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds.
- Mikayla Pilley added 12 points for Fort Hays.
- Drury has dropped three straight season openers and is now 21-6 all-time in season openers.
- It is the first time a Drury opponent has overcome a deficit of at least 10 points since last season against Saginaw Valley in the second game of the year.
- The all-time series between Drury and Fort Hays State is now tied at one game apiece.
- Fort Hays has now won 29 straight regular-season non-conference games
QUOTABLE
"I think we lost our intensity in the third quarter,"
Kaci Bailey commented postgame. "Late in the game, we had good looks but were unable to make shots. We can't dwell on this game. We have another tough team in 24 hours."
UP NEXT
The Lady Panthers finish the opening weekend GLVC/MIAA Crossover with a game at 7:45 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 14, against Pittsburg State.
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