Drury Panthers

[crazznewt]

Congratulations to Paige Robinson for being the 31st pick in the WNBA draft. She will play for the Dallas wings, who open their 2023 season against the Chicago Sky in late May.
It became obvious early in her career that she would accomplish her goal of playing high level pro ball. Hardly one dimensional, her academics nearly matched her athletic prowess as she racked up multiple conference academic honors and an All American academic honor.
We didn't get a chance to watch Paige in person much after her sophomore year because of Covid and her injury.


She was on some talented teams.
Consider what could have been:

*The Lady Panthers averaged almost 1800 fans in the 2019-2020 season.

*They topped 3100 fans twice the same season.

*On 2/29/20, the last pre-covid game, a regular season game against Rockhurst, Drury drew over 2100. This is the game where Drury scored 118 despite each team scoring 22 in the fourth quarter. This was also the game Diestlekamp scored 53.

*Drury was set to host the regional for the second year in a row before covid hit.

*The regional they hosted the season before had an average of 2200 fans for their 3 games, with over 2400 for the championship. This was a very loud environment.

*The roster included Diestlekamp, Bernard, Holmes, Robinson, Parker, Lynch, Richards, Winfrey, Stanfield, Henderson, Findley. This team was the favorite to win it all.

[crazznewt]

For a fan to get women's basketball transfer information, one has to look through twitter. Highlights of what I found:
*One of SBU'S best players, Emma Perry, has transferred to NAIA Park University.

*Truman's athletic point guard, Gracie Stugart, is in the portal. She will likely end up at Lindenwood where her dad coaches football.

*Truman's Hannah Pinkston has entered the portal as a grad transfer.

*Lots of movement in the MIAA. Missouri Southern has multiple transfers, including All American Lacy Stokes.

*Drury has lost incoming freshman Gracie Kelsey (Lindenwood) and Alyssa Nielsen. So far, it looks like Stevi Lockhart and Ellie Brueggemann haven't decommited.

*Wow, Paige Robinson is still getting loads of publicity:
https://twitter.com/RedbirdWBB/statu...497421317?s=20
https://twitter.com/ISURedbirds/stat...451904000?s=20

[crazznewt]

I'm going to Bible Study, my priority, and have to miss the meet and greet tonight at Drury. Pantherclawz, please share highlights. Any Stevi Lockhart or other potential recruit update will be appreciated!

[panthersclawz1]

None of Eagan’s recruits are coming to Drury. Lockhart will soon announce Lindenwood. Eagan is likely to take 3/4, at least. One may go elsewhere. None will come here. It’s all on Bailey.

Expect a down year.

[crazznewt]

None of Eagan’s recruits are coming to Drury. Lockhart will soon announce Lindenwood. Eagan is likely to take 3/4, at least. One may go elsewhere. None will come here. It’s all on Bailey.

Expect a down year.

Even in a rebuilding season, anything under 20 wins would probably be deemed a failure by many in Pantherland, and under 25 would be considered a down year. The returners understand what it takes to play at that level. Combine that with the portal possibilities, and what Drury offers in fan and media support......"all things are possible ".

Hopefully the men have a breakout season and thus generate the typical Drury fan support again.

[crazznewt]

Congratulations to Truman's Hannah Belanger, who has transfered to Iowa State to play hoops for the Lady Cyclones. It is easy to see her being a productive player in the Big 12 with her prolific shooting ability.

She joins the list of recent GLVC transfers to D1. Here are a couple:

*Maryville's Jayda Jansen at Toledo

*William Jewell's Kiara Bradley at Kansas City

*Paige Robinson, Illinois State, WNBA

The Covid extra season has been beneficial for many. This rule took effect a season late for Drury and Ashland.

[crazznewt]

Truman's Gracie Stugart will transfer to Maryville. Missouri Southern's Lacey Stokes will be a Missouri State Lady Bear.


Alana Findley should have been named an All American. Her all around game was very deserving and I have never seen anyone who finishes that left handed drive quite the way she does.

On the subject of All Americans, the Lady Panthers have had All Americans running the point for several years in a row now. Here is something off the wall. Anna Hitt showed hard to guard athleticism and ball handling skill while running point toward the end of the season, particularly against Indy. She has the athleticism to beat full court pressure


The addition of Memphis transfer and Springfield high school all time leading scorer, MaKayla Brooks, will certainly bolster the guard depth.

[crazznewt]

Allie Clevenger has transferred to the Central Missouri Jennies. Did she jump ship or does UCM offer something Drury doesn't? She is a very good shooter despite the side spin on her shot.
I believe she is the first Lady Panther in history who was an actual contributor to transfer before her senior season.

[TSU_Mike59]

Allie Clevenger has transferred to the Central Missouri Jennies. Did she jump ship or does UCM offer something Drury doesn't? She is a very good shooter despite the side spin on her shot.
I believe she is the first Lady Panther in history who was an actual contributor to transfer before her senior season.

The DU 23-24 online roster doesn’t include incoming freshmen or transfers but lists just six returning players, the best of whom averaged less than eight points per game last year and none of the other five averaged more than 4 ppg.

The Panthers bringing back not a single start from last year combined with a coach who has limited experience is going to be really interesting.

UCM meanwhile brings back four starters from a team that went 25-5 last year and definitely has a good shot at both MIAA and regional title aspirations. Plus, Dave Slifer is a heck of a coach who has stayed there a long time.

So to answer your question . . . yes to both?

[crazznewt]

The DU 23-24 online roster doesn’t include incoming freshmen or transfers but lists just six returning players, the best of whom averaged less than eight points per game last year and none of the other five averaged more than 4 ppg.

The Panthers bringing back not a single start from last year combined with a coach who has limited experience is going to be really interesting.

UCM meanwhile brings back four starters from a team that went 25-5 last year and definitely has a good shot at both MIAA and regional title aspirations. Plus, Dave Slifer is a heck of a coach who has stayed there a long time.

So to answer your question . . . yes to both?

A lot of people have been waiting several years, hoping for a down year for the Lady Panthers. Losing 3 irreplaceable players will be tough, but not impossible to overcome. With those players gone, GLVC Freshman Of the Year, Reese Shaaf, will become a big scorer. She will be a force in this league.


Anna Hitt (who missed the first few games with an injury) and Caitlin Daniels have a ton of potential. Example: When Drury's big three were on the bench in foul trouble in the first half against Truman, they led the charge as Drury came from 5 down, to up 4 in Drury's big win. They were big contributors all season and played well down the stretch.

Rhi Gibbons also can play. She came off the bench when Drury was down in the first half against SBU, hitting threes in front of a rowdy courtside crowd, and making athletic drives to the hoop enroute to 20 points. Two of those drives were taken right to and over the Bearcats 6'6" center. Without going into details, I wouldn't underestimate the other two players on Drury's roster either.

People are also sleeping on Memphis transfer Makaiya Brooks. She played limited minutes on a 20 plus win Memphis team loaded with multiple all AAC guards.
She is Springfield high school's all time leading scorer, over the likes of:
*Parkview/Vanderbilt/WNBA star, Rhonda Blades
*Glendale/Nebraska star, Emily Thompson
*Parkview/Michigan/Drury star, Becky Flippin
*Heather Ezell, Kickapoo/Iowa State
Jamie Sweere, Parkview/Southern Illinois
Among others.

One thing to remember, women's basketball in this area got a huge boost from Melody Howard's '88-'90 Marshfield High team. It was routine for fire marshalls to monitor attendance numbers everywhere they played. Girls basketball is still a big draw here and the Lady Panthers benefit greatly by not having to play in a nearly empty gym (like others in the GLVC), which helps recruiting.


You referenced the coach. Once upon a time, Drury hired a high school coach with ZERO college coaching experience. In her and the program's fourth season, her team came within 3 points of winning the national championship. Coach Bailey played D1 ball, was a D1 assistant with the above mentioned coach for several years, and turned Quincy from the laughing stock of the league into a formidable opponent in two short seasons.
On top of all this, I'm hearing recruiting rumors.

Obviously, it will be difficult to maintain the winning culture with all the turnover. We will see.

[crazznewt]

Quincy's all GLVC 2nd team guard, Beth Matas Martin, has followed her coaches to Drury. Martin is one of 3 solid contenders for potential league honors on next season's Lady Panther roster. Coach Bailey says more signees are in the works.

[crazznewt]

Mostly twitter news:

*Drury Men picked up a high scoring juco transfer. He has not been announced yet, so I won't mention his name. This 6'2" guard might be what the Panthers need to up their pace. He has a decent vertical, and uses his body extremely well to protect the ball while shooting scoop shots. He looks to be prolific in transition and attacking the basket.

Drury announced Ryan Gordon, a much needed 6'6" "physical and athletic" forward has also signed out of juco.

*The Lewis Women are probably the odds on favorite to win the GLVC at the moment. Having several returners who lost to Drury 4 times last season, the Flyers will have extra motivation. Those games were mostly competitive and always very physical. The most physical of which was the regional matchup where Bella Sparaco executed three legal and devastating picks resulting in three different Flyers landing on their backs. This was probably the fault of a Lewis defender not warning their teammate of a pick being set.

*SBU Women lost their best shooter to Avilla and their head coach resigned, taking an assistant position at Pepperdine University.

*If Mussorici returns for Maryville, they will be fast with the addition of Gracie Stugart from Truman.
They also have signed at least one other impact player.

*Rockhurst Women should be tough with the return of three time all GLVC player Keegan Sullivan, in addition to the returning sophomore guard duo of Conway and Kamies from Nixa, the intense Allison Mcfarren, and
6'3" Rebeca Garcia.

[crazznewt]

Playing with my pacifier (phone) while waiting for my wife, I dug this up:

*Drury fans will get a sneak peek of the current Drury basketball lineups as play begins in the Strafford College Pro-Am on Thursday June 8. *Correction: that is actually the following Sunday the 11th the Drury teams start play.*

*Former Lady Panther Haylee Mitchell, is now on the Southern Arkansas Basketball team that finished last season with a 12-17 record. This school is just a baseball pass from the Louisiana border. Hopefully her skill level catches up to her immense athletic ability. Good luck to her.


*Local coaching legend and one time Drury WBB assistant, Jim Middleton, is now the head WBB coach at Evangel. Look for Evangel Athletics to leave the NAIA and move to D2 in the near future, as construction of the 18.5 million dollar "Valor Center" is well underway.

*The Lewis Women have added a couple of athletic transfers to their lineup, including a tenacious rebounder. The Flyers will be tough. If Hilber returns for a fifth, they should crack the national rankings barring the typical slow Lewis start to the season.

*The Lady Panthers have signed Kaylee King, a 5'6" scoring machine who AVERAGED over 32 points a game her senior season and came within 35 points of scoring 3000(!) points for her career (despite covid) at Ellington HS (Mo). Her points meant something as her team made multiple appearances in the class 2 state championship game, winning once on her way to being named Missouri Class 2 Player of the Year this past season while also being a McDonald's All American nominee.

*The Lady Panthers also signed 6'2" Sara Mendel, the current Missouri Player of the Year in Class 4. She averaged 18.5 points and 9.8 rebounds a game. From her Hudl highlights, she looks to be a mobile big, continuing a Lady Panther pattern of recruiting such. She can score from anywhere, including from 3 off the break.
Those two, along with Reese Shaaf, give the Drury Women 3 Missouri State High School Players of the Year on the roster.

*Those two incoming freshmen were the stars of SBU Coach Keiser's best recruiting class ever before her departure, opening the door for Drury.
Coach Keiser was replaced by Wyketha Harrell, who was an assistant at D1 New Orleans for the last eight seasons, losing 130 games during that time.

[crazznewt]

None of Eagan’s recruits are coming to Drury. Lockhart will soon announce Lindenwood. Eagan is likely to take 3/4, at least. One may go elsewhere. None will come here. It’s all on Bailey.

Expect a down year.

I agree after what I saw Sunday.

[panthersclawz1]

I agree after what I saw Sunday.

Was not able to attend, but based on current personnel, I'd expect something like a 16-12 record heading into the conference tournament and that's without injuries. Out in the second round, no national tournament berth.