FORT LAUDERDALE. Fla. - The Panthers took on the top-ranked team in NAIA DII Saturday afternoon as they faced off with Saint Xavier University. The No. 1 Cougars managed to jump out on DU and extend their lead to as many as 16 points. The Panthers battled to get back into the game, but their comeback fell short as the Cougars hung on for a 79-71 win and put the overall record for DU at 10-3.

The Panthers scored first as Tiesha Stokes gave DU the early 2-0 lead. The Panthers kept this battle going early and took over the lead once again as a Lauren Brower three-point shot gave DU a 7-6 lead. Saint Xavier would respond from there as they took over the lead with 5:37 left in the first quarter and did not let the Panthers take the advantage for the remainder of the game. The Cougars extended their lead to as many as 16 points in the first half and carried a 42-27 lead to the break over No. 8 Davenport.

DU then made its charge in the third quarter as they would go on to outscore the Cougars 25-16. The Panthers started off hot shooting and kept that momentum going as they shot 63.6% from the floor including 77.8% from behind the arc. The Panthers began the half with an 8-0 run and charged back into the game as they cut the Saint Xavier lead to just two points at a 60-58 score with 8:11 left in the game.

Seniors Alex Law and Tiesha Stokes led the attack as they scored a combined 26 points in the second half for the Panthers. Law would score 11 of her 14 points in the second half and shoot a perfect 3-for-3 from behind the arc while Stokes scored 15 of her game-high 19 points in the second half.

The Panthers were not able to climb any closer than their two-point deficit as Saint Xavier went on a 7-0 run to extend their lead to 67-58. DU battled down the stretch, but the Cougars hung onto their lead and left DU with a 78-71 loss and snapped their 10-game winning streak.