SPRINGFIELD, MO- The Miners faced a tough challenge to start their weekend road trip, paying a visit to the top-ranked Drury University Panthers this evening. While the Miners hung with Drury for the opening 15 minutes of the game, the hot offense of the Panthers could not be stopped, and the Miners faced the 97-74 loss.

S&T opened the game with a three-pointer from Marta Durk (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon Township) on the opposite wing. Drury would go on a 6-0 run to take their first lead of the game after Emily Parker completed an -and one just one minute into play.

The Miners would get a lay-up from Kerr and a three-pointer from Laura Rodriguez (Gran Canaria, Spain/Baloncesto Torrelodones) on back-to-back possessions to tie the game at eight all.

While the Miners and Panthers traded baskets, S&T regained the lead with just under six minutes left in the quarter when Laura Rodriguez (Gran Canaria, Spain/Baloncesto Torrelodones) drained a short jumper and made it 15-14. They would get their largest lead of the game when Kristen Keys (St. Louis, MO/Westminster Christian Academy) found Alex Kerr (St. Louis, Mo./St. Joseph's Academy) on a fast-break and made it 19-15.

From that point, Drury would go on a 10-0 run to regain their lead. That run was capped on a cherry-pick lay-up from Kelsey Winfrey to put the Miners down 25-19 with 2:20 left in the first.

S&T would break the Panthers run with consecutive baskets from Jada Lindesmith (St. Peters, MO/Lutheran) and Laura Rodriguez (Gran Canaria, Spain/Baloncesto Torrelodones) to get back within three.

Drury would get another short run to end the quarter and extend their lead out to 33-26 heading into the second quarter.

Things took a turn in the second quarter of play; the Miners were held to just six points while going 3-11 from the field. The Panthers would take advantage of S&T's offensive woes to put the Miners down by 25 heading into halftime.

The Miners got back into their rhythm from the first quarter to start the third; S&T got baskets on three consecutive trips down the floor from Marta Durk (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon Township), Laura Rodriguez (Gran Canaria, Spain/Baloncesto Torrelodones), and Alex Kerr (St. Louis, Mo./St. Joseph's Academy) to cut their deficit down to 60-39.

S&T would get another 20+ point quarter, but Drury's offense held steady and matched them bucket for bucket.

Laura Rodriguez (Gran Canaria, Spain/Baloncesto Torrelodones) would get off a buzzer beater off just before the end of the third quarter to put the Miners down 80-58 heading into the final 10 minutes of play.

Drury took control in the final 10 minutes of play, holding the Miners to 16 fourth quarter points.

S&T went on a five-minute offensive drought that was broken when Shanice Uwase (Portland, Ore./Westview) grabbed an offensive rebound and dumped it in to Kristin Steins (Ballwin, Mo./Parkway South) with 4:44 left in the game.

While the Miners were able to get back into break the Panthers defense, they were not able to make a comeback and S&T faced the 97-74 loss.

Laura Rodriguez (Gran Canaria, Spain/Baloncesto Torrelodones) led the way tonight with a season and game high 23 points on 8-14 shooting while Marat Durk chipped in 18 points and Alex Kerr (St. Louis, Mo./St. Joseph's Academy) added in 16 points and grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.
Missouri S&T (1-5, 1-5 GLVC) shot just under 52% from the field while draining eight three-pointers and shooting 44.4% from long range.