NAIA Division II Women’s NationalsDAVENPORT 85, TENNESSEE WESLEYAN 72Davenport (31-2)Bagneski 8, Closson 9, Boehm 12, Grubius 8, Benike 17, Malinowski 3, Chambers, Despres 9, Neff 9, Lyman 3, Janish 3, Sevcik 5, Swartz, Clayborn, Cousins.Tennessee Wesleyan (17-16)Jackson 21, Elliott 6, Castor 12, Blevins 4, Burrell 3, Allen, Hodge 4, Murr 2, Cain 3, Gibson 11, Jordan 3, Sweat, Steen 3, Turnage.Halftime: Davenport, 39-36.NCCAA Mid-East Men’s RegionalBLUEFIELD 96, COVENANT 74Covenant (3-22)McGaughey 4, Dahms 10, Sears 19, Chaney 9, Bowman 14, Robinson 3, Lakey 1, Buchanan 6, DeVries, Carroll 2, Werkema 2, Danek 4.Bluefield (17-15)Jackson 6, O’Boute 17, Shumake 14, M’Bala 16, Reed 8, Daniels 2, Zimin, Board 12, Burroughs, Dula, Wright 21.Halftime: Bluefield, 39-31.
Davenport University of Michigan, ranked No. 2 in the NAIA Division II final women’s basketball poll, had its hands full with Tennessee Wesleyan before defeating the Lady Bulldogs 85-72 in the first round of the national tournament Thursday evening in Sioux City, Iowa.
Kallie Banike led 11 scorers for the Panthers (31-2) with 17 points, but only Kristi Boehm joined her in double figures with 12 points and the team shot 42.5 percent for the game. Davenport shot only 38.9 percent in taking a 39-36 lead into halftime. The Lady Bulldogs (17-16) trailed by 11 four minutes into the game but fought back into it, largely with 11 first-half points by Heather Gibson.
Lindsey Jackson scored 21 points in her final game for the Athens school, including six 3-point baskets in 11 tries. That set her program records at 97 for the season and 256 for her career. Amy Jo Castor totaled 12 points and Katie Blevins had four assists for the Lady Bulldogs, who were outrebounded 46-35.
* Bluefield 96, Covenant 74: At Bluefield, Va., the Scots’ first season under coach Kyle Taylor ended at 3-22 with the National Christian College Athletic Association Division I Mid-East men’s regional loss to the Ramblin’ Rams.