NASHVILLE, TENN. – The Kentucky Wesleyan College women's basketball team opened the 2023-24 campaign against Drury University at the Pops Duncan Classic hosted by Trevecca Nazarene. In a neck and neck battle, Drury emerged with a 78-65 victory. 
 
Drury led by as many as nine points, 20-11 in the opening quarter, but the Panthers rallied late and closed the game to 22-18 after one. Early in the second quarter, Shaylee McDonald nailed a three-point bucket to give the Panthers a 26-25 lead. 
 
However, Drury would close the half on a run, scoring 12 unanswered to build an 11-point lead. Hadley Lytton ended the drought with a lay-up with two minutes left in the half. 
 
The lead grew for Drury in the second half. Drury outscored the Panthers 20-16 in the third frame and went into the fourth quarter with a 57-44 lead. 
 
Unphased the Panthers charged back. Corina Conley opened the fourth with a lay-up as the Panthers scored the first eight points, ending with Shaylee McDonald's lay-up that cut the deficit to 57-52. 
 
The Panthers have had some good fortune playing Drury in Nashville before and with less than five minutes left in the contest Wesleyan trailed 62-58. Conley converted two free throws to bring the Panthers within four points with 4:27 left on the clock. 
 
On the ensuing possession, Drury answered with an Andjela Kremenovic jumper. After a missed on the Panthers end, a three by Drury quicky swung the momentum against the Panthers with four minutes left in the game. 
 
Drury would edge ahead over the final four minutes, keeping the Panthers at a two-possession deficit or more until the final horn. Four players reached double figures for the Panthers as Conley and McDonald each finished with 16 points. 
 
Emmy Ralph started and added 11 points and two assists. Shiya Hoosier played 30 minutes and recorded 10 points and five steals. Jordyn Barga led the team with seven rebounds. 
 
The Panthers will be back in Nashville on Saturday for another game to conclude the Pops Duncan Classic. Wesleyan will play Southwest Baptist. Tip-off is scheduled for 4PM.
 
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