SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Annie Armstrong lit it up early from 3-point range and her Lady Panthers teammates helped take it home from there, as No. 12 Drury picked up a 77-62 victory at Illinois Springfield in Great Lakes Valley Conference play Thursday night at the TRAC.
Armstrong scored 20 points – hitting 6 of 8 tries from 3-point range – Paige Wilson added 13 points (on 3-for-3 shooting from 3-point range) and Alice Heinzler had 10 points as the Lady Panthers improved to 19-3 overall and 12-2 in the GLVC with their ninth consecutive victory.
Illinois Springfield fell to 8-14 and 2-12.
Armstrong hit three treys in the first quarter in helping DU to a 22-15 lead at the quarter break, then added another in the second as the Lady Panthers pushed that advantage to 40-25 by the intermission.
"I was very pleased with the way we were able to get some separation there in the first half," Drury coach Molly Miller said. "I think this team is playing with a lot of confidence right now, and that's a good thing for us."
Drury put the game away with a 12-0 run to start the third quarter, pushing the advantage to 27 points as the Prairie Stars cut into their final deficit from there.
Hannah Dressler pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds for the Lady Panthers, who posted a season-best 23 assists on their 29 field goals (29 of 58, 50 percent) for the night. Heinzler had five assists and Armstrong and Addy Roller added four each for the Lady Panthers, who went 13-for-23 (57 percent) from 3-point range.
Caroline Kelty had 13 points off the bench and Ashley McHenry added 10 points for the Prairie Stars, who received 12 rebounds from Syerra Cunningham in claiming a final 37-33 advantage on the boards.
Drury will play its final regular season GLVC road game on Saturday in a 1 p.m. tipoff at McKendree in Lebanon, Ill. The Lady Panthers come home to The O' – where they've won a school record-tying 22 consecutive games – to face Maryville next Thursday (Feb. 18), UMSL on Saturday (Feb. 20) and Missouri S&T on Feb. 25.
