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SIOUX CITY, Iowa
– Davenport had four players score in double-figures en route to an 84-63 win over Cal State San Marcos at the NAIA Division II Women's Basketball National Championship in the Tyson Events Center/Gateway Arena Wednesday. The Lady Panthers overcame a rough start from the floor to improve to 30-4 on the season and pick up their fifth straight in First Round contests at the event. They advance to a Second Round matchup against Briar Cliff (Iowa) Friday at 4:30 p.m. EST.
Cold shooting plagued Davenport to start the game, connecting on just one of its first eight attempts from the floor, allowing Cal State San Marcos to lead for the first seven minutes of the contest. Senior
Karlee Despres ignited the offense, draining a 3 to give the Lady Panthers its first lead, 12-11, at 12:31. Once she drained the trey, Davenport didn't look back, pushing its lead to as many as 14 points at 31-17 at the 5:20 mark in the first half on a lay-up by Abby Hengesbach.
The final 66 seconds of the half saw Hengesbach nail a pair of free throws and
Karli Harris picked up a loose ball and scored a break-away bucket for a 39-27 Lady Panther advantage heading into the locker room.
Hengesbach and Despres were the offensive spark that Davenport needed in the opening half with a dozen and 10 points, respectively. After starting out 1-for-8, the Lady Panthers recovered by shooting 42 percent. The Cougars were limited to just 37 percent from the floor and hit just one shot from long range.
Cal State San Marcos roared out of the break, connecting on nine of its 13 attempts to get within seven points, 45-38. That was as close as the Davenport defense allowed the Cougars to get. With just over seven minutes to go, the Lady Panthers pushed its lead to 14 on a
Leah Sevcik bucket down low, 67-53.
Kia Frazier's free throw at 3:57 marked the largest advantage, 79-59.
Hengesbach finished as the game's top scorer with an 18-point performance, including an 8-of-10 showing from the charity stripe. Registering 14 points each were Despres and Sevcik. Despres was the sharp-shooter for the Lady Panthers, hitting a trio from behind the arc, and controlled the boards by pulling down five. Harris handed out eight assists to conduct the offensive attack. Davenport finished 50 percent from the floor (30-of-59), hit 18 of its 28 tries from the free-throw line and forced the Cougars into 32 turnovers.
Post-Game Quotes -
Mike Williams and
Leah Sevcik
Williams on getting a win under team's belt - “That was a good team we beat today…very solid. They did not give us easy looks. We made a small run in the second half and we were able to create some distance.
Williams on play of
Leah Sevcik - “She was very solid..maybe her best game of the year. She likes to play physical and that showed tonight as she continued to go at the other team.”
Sevcik on matching season high 14 points - “I We wanted to make a statement and keep going at them. I was not really trying to do anything different..my teammates found me and I was able to finish”
Post-Game Notes
Davenport improves to 13-1 this season against teams in the NAIA DII Top 25 or receiving votes section…The Lady Panthers have now won five consecutive opening round games at the national tournament and DU has a 9-7 overall record in the eight seasons…
Leah Sevcik tied a season high with 14 points…
Abbey Hengesbach is averaging 14.5 points per game in her post-season career…DU outscored the Cougars 37-19 off the bench
**The video highlights are courtesy of Hastings College students working at the event**
