ST. LOUIS – The Lady Panthers 2025-26 season ended Saturday afternoon in the GLVC Semifinals to second-seeded Maryville, 70-64, in St. Louis.
 
The Saints opened the scoring nearly two and a half minutes into the game after both teams combined for four misses in the opening minute of the game. Jazz Gray tied the game at two the very next possession and set the tone for the opening quarter.
 
The largest lead of the first quarter was three points for Maryville as the Lady Panthers answered every score for the Saints with one of their own. The first ended the Saints up 14-12 as there were a combined 18 missed shots in the opening ten minutes.
 
Both teams struggled again to find a bucket to open the second quarter until Liz Behan for the Saints grew their lead to four points. The Lady Panthers responded with back-to-back threes from Josie Storey and Kaylee King to take back the lead, 18-16.
 
Drury held a narrow lead for much of the second quarter. With 3:35 left, Maryville tied the game at 26 with consecutive layups. The Saints then went on a small run, but Drury closed the gap and tied it at 31 before halftime.
 
The third quarter was a never-ending cycle; the Lady Panthers would score, and then the Saints would answer. Drury would have their largest lead of the quarter, three points, during this stretch following a three-pointer from Kaylee King. That lead did not last long as Maryville tied it at 36 the next possession on a Claire Lueken three.
 
The Lady Panthers would give up the lead for the first time in the third quarter with 2:48 remaining. Maryville would hold onto the lead entering the final quarter, 46-45.
 
Rhi Gibbons drew a foul in the opening seconds of the fourth quarter to head to the free-throw line. Gibbons would convert both to give the Lady Panthers a slight advantage.
 
After Rhi Gibbons gave the Lady Panthers a brief lead with early free throws, Maryville's Gracie Gopalan responded with a layup to take the lead for the Saints, a lead that Maryville would not surrender again.
Drury never let the game outside of six points, but they were unable to regain the lead at any point in the fourth quarter. The Lady Panthers would foul late to slow the clock with the hope of getting a late score, but the Saints would knock down their free throws to secure the 70-64 win and berth in the GLVC Championship.
 
GAME NOTES

• The Lady Panthers end the season with a 21-8 record and in the GLVC Semifinals for the second consecutive season.
• Maryville outshot the Lady Panthers 41.4% to 33.9% from the field in the game.
• The rebound total was the same in the game, 38, but Drury was able to win the offensive rebound battle 12 to 7.
• Drury and Maryville both scored eight second-chance points.
• The largest statistical disparity was points in the paint. Maryville scored 34 to Drury's 14.
• There were a total of 14 different lead changes, and 13 times the game was tied in the game.
• Each team had four steals and two blocks.
• The Lady Panthers assisted on seven of their 21 field goals.
• Rhi Gibbons led all players in points and rebounds with 21 points and 11 rebounds. It was Gibbons' third career double-double.
• Sara Mendel started the game off 4-for-4 from the field. She would take three more shots in the game, not making a single one. Mendel ended with 14 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 steals.
• Kaylee King and Josie Storey each contributed 11 points in the loss.
• Maryville was led by Claire Lueken with 18 points.
• Gracie Gopalan (13) and Annika Pluemer (10) were the only other Saints to score double figures.
• The Saints had eight players score at least once compared to the Lady Panthers six.

 
QUOTABLE
"We were unable to make some baskets down the stretch, and that cost us," coach Kaci Bailey said postgame, "We have been able to fight and win these close games for a majority of the season, and today did not go our way."
 
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