Box Score SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - - The Purdue Northwest Women's Basketball team began their 2019-20 regular season on Friday afternoon, as they traveled to Springfield, Illinois to face the McKendree University Bearcats in the GLVC/GLIAC Crossover Challenge. The Pride led by as many as five points early in the game, but were unable to sustain the lead in the 60-46 loss.

"We're in our growing pains stage and still have a lot to learn," Head Coach Courtney Locke said. "For a group that works really hard, we're in the process of figuring out our identity. We also missed a lot of open shots that I'm confident with time, we'll be knocking down."

The Pride outscored the Bearcats in points off turnovers (11-9), fast break points (8-1) and bench points (29-14). Offensive leaders included Sophomore Molly Devalkenaere (Milwaukee, Wis./Brookfield), who scored a team-high eight points on 3-for-5 shooting and grabbed five rebounds. Devalkenaere also made two of her three FT attempts.

"Molly came in and was confident and effective today, knocking down the 15-foot shot," Locke said. That shot cut the Bearcats lead to nine with 4:04 left in the third quarter.

Junior Danielle Nennig (Wrightstown, Wis./Wrightstown) played a well-rounded game, collecting seven points, three steals, one assist and seven rebounds, including three offensive.

Freshman Savaya Brockington (Indianapolis, Ind./North Central) led the Pride in minutes during her first game in a Pride uniform, playing 33:07 for Coach Locke, also in her first game with PNW. Brockington added five points, four assists, three rebounds, one steal and one block.

"Savaya led us with four assists and really pushed and attacked in transition," Locke said.

Freshman Anjel Galbraith (Vallejo, Cal./Salesian College Prep) recorded three steals in her Pride debut, tied with Nennig for team-high.
 
Sophomore Guard Kelli Damman (Fort Wayne, Ind./Carroll) entered the game with 6:02 left in the first quarter and instantly provided a spark for the Pride, scoring her first points of the season off the assist from Brockington, an and-one with 5:51 remaining in the quarter. Junior Tayler Vauters (Rockville, Ind./Riverton Parke) scored four points on 2-for-2 shooting in the quarter to lead the Pride. Sophomore Brittany Barnard (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo), who Locke credits is "really solid in her post defensive presence," played well in the paint, collecting two rebounds and one block, all within a 47-second span.
  
"We have to have a short-term memory and bounce back to get ready for tomorrow," Locke said.

The GLVC/GLIAC Crossover Challenge continues on Saturday, November 9, as PNW will take on the University of Illinois-Springfield. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. (CT).