Box Score GLVC Tournament Bracket

Rolla, Mo. – The Missouri S&T Lady Miners had a chance to secure a first round bye in the GLVC Tournament with a win over Drury, but couldn't get the job done as they fell to the Panthers 66-57 on Thursday evening in Rolla. Instead, S&T fell all the way down to the eighth spot and will host Missouri-St. Louis on Sunday afternoon in the opening round of the GLVC Tournament at 1 p.m.

The Lady Miners (15-11, 11-7 GLVC) got off to a fast start racing out to an early 13-4 lead five minutes into the contest by knocking down its first seven shots. Kylie Cooper (Andover, Kan./Andover) paced the offensive attack scoring nine of the 15 points. Katie Pritchard and Bethanie Funderburk began to dominate the game over the next 10 minutes scoring 18 of Drury's 20 points allowing the Panthers (14-12, 8-10 GLVC) to take their biggest lead of the half at 24-19 on a jumper by Pritchard.

S&T closed to within 26-25 after Cooper made 1 of 2 at the foul line with 2:07 left, but Pritchard responded with her third 3-pointer of the half to push the lead back to four. It appeared Drury would head into the locker room with a three-point lead, but Senait McLeod (Miami, Fla./Coral Reef) drove the length of the floor in 4.8 seconds and hit a shot at the buzzer to bring the Lady Miners to within 30-29 at the break.

After its hot start shooting S&T made only four field goals the rest of the half to finish shooting 46 percent (11 for 24) from the field. It was 1 of 6 from three, but was 6 for 8 at the charity stripe. Cooper led the way with 12 points in the frame.

The Panthers shot 39 percent in the opening half, but went 5 of 7 from three and 3 for 4 at the foul line. Pritchard and Funderburk combined for 22 points.

The first six minutes of the second half went back and forth as each side answered basket for basket. Drury took the lead for good when Funderburk was fouled shooting a three and made all three free throws. That play sparked an 8-2 run allowing the Panthers to build a 43-37 lead with less than 12 minutes to play.

S&T cut the lead to 51-48 on a pair of free throws by McLeod at the 7:16 left, but that was the closest it would get the rest of the way. Drury responded with seven straight points to take a 58-48 lead on an old fashioned 3-point play by Pritchard with 5:13 left in the game.

The Lady Miners had a chance to cut the lead to six with less than four minutes to play, but Taylor Jensen (Farmington, Mo./Farmington)'s 3-point attempt went all the around the rim but wouldn't fall through the hoop.

The Panthers stretched its lead to as many as 11 points in the final minute.

S&T finished the game shooting 43 percent (20 for 47) from the field, was 1 of 9 from three and 16 for 20 at the foul line. Hailee Parks (Sullivan, Mo./Sullivan) led the way with 16 points, 10 in the second half. Cooper finished with a double-double scoring 14 points and hauling down 11 rebounds. McLeod finished with 12 points.

Drury shot 39 percent (20 for 52), was 5 for 11 from three and 21 of 29 at the foul line. Pritchard led the way with 24 points while Funderburk added 20.