ASHLAND, Ohio – Drury’s phenomenal ride through the 2022-23 season came to an end on Saturday in Ashland, Ohio, as fifth-ranked Grand Valley State rallied past the Lady Panthers 61-53 to advance to the NCAA-II Midwest Regional championship game.
Drury, ranked second in NCAA-II and seeded second in the Midwest Regional, ends the year with a 31-2 record. The loss halted Drury’s winning streak at 27 games. The Lakers, seeded third in the region, advance with a 31-2 mark and extended their winning streak to 14 games, a mark that dates back to Jan. 21.
In a physical, tightly-defended contest, the Lady Panthers forged a four-point lead, 48-44, on a three-pointer by Kaylee DaMitz-Holt with 4:46 remaining. Grand Valley State tied the game 30 seconds later, getting a made free throw, a steal, then a three-pointer from Abrie Cabana.
The Lakers seized momentum and another basket by Cabana moments later put them in front for good. Grand Valley State made 11 of 12 free throw attempts in the final three minutes to pull away.
“This was the toughest postgame locker room I’ve ever been in – I’m just super-proud of these kids,” said Drury head coach Amy Eagan. “What a battle. You can talk about how good Grand Valley State’s defense is, but I thought our defense was outstanding. This was just two great teams that battled it out and played really good basketball.”
The defense was evident in a first half that saw both teams grind to a 19-19 tie at halftime in Drury’s lowest-scoring half of the year. The Lady Panthers forced the Lakers into 13 turnovers in the first two quarters and neither team shot better than 31 percent in the first half.
Drury got a spark in the third quarter, though, and took a 38-35 at the end of the period as freshman Reese Schaaf scored eight of the Lady Panthers’ 19 points in the quarter.
Drury’s largest lead was a nine-point advantage early in the fourth period, but Grand Valley State quickly erased it with back-to-back three’s. The Lady Panthers got the momentum back and took a four-point lead midway through the final period before the Lakers rallied.
The game featured nine ties and eight lead changes.
“We struggled with Grand Valley State’s length,” said Eagan. “But I don’t know if they were more physical than us. I thought we battled them really, really hard.”
Drury shot 34 percent, their lowest mark of the year, as the Lakers held the Lady Panthers to 20 for 59 from the field. Grand Valley State was 19 for 44 from the field for 43 percent but made 18 of 22 free throws in the game, while the Lady Panthers went 5 for 5 from the foul stripe.
Terrion Moore and Schaaf both finished with 11 points to lead Drury. Moore added five assists and four steals.
Grand Valley State’s Ellie Droste had a game-high 17 points.
“One game doesn’t define what this team is,” added Eagan. “I’ve been coaching a long time and this was the most enjoyable group I’ve ever been around. It’s because they just enjoyed working. They enjoyed each other. We had a lot of fun on road trips and at games. They were just so driven. What they did with us will carry over a lot in their life. But I’m most proud of the people they are. Man, I’m going to miss them.”
Drury’s 31-2 season marked the program’s eighth 30-win season and the 31 wins are tied for the fifth-most in the team’s 23-year history. The Lady Panthers were making their 20th NCAA-II Tournament appearance and their 16th trip to the second round.
