In a non-conference meeting that was a rescheduled game from a postponed contest earlier in the month, the Lions exploded early, scoring the first 18 points of the game and building a lead the 18th ranked Lady Panthers could not overcome.
“I thought they took us out of everything we were trying to do,” said Drury head coach Kaci Bailey. “Our spacing was bad and they jumped out to a big start and it was hard to climb out of that.”
For the Lions, who improved to 8-4 with the win, it marked their second win in recent weeks over a nationally ranked team, having defeated, then third-ranked Central Missouri State in mid-December.
After their quick start, the Lions saw the Lady Panthers draw to within 10 midway through the opening quarter, but they again pulled away, leading 47-29 at the half.
Junior Caitlynn Daniels was a bright standout for Drury, as she closed with a career-best scoring effort, finishing with 29, besting a personal high of 28 points while a freshman player at Alabama-Birmingham. Graduate student Beth Matas Martin added 11 points for the Lady Panthers.
Missouri Southern got an 18-point scoring performance from Kryslyn Jones to top their offensive production.
The Lady Panthers are back in action on Wednesday, January 3rd, when they travel to Illinois-Springfield for a 5:30 pm game in Great Lakes Valley Conference play.
