Drury Lady Panthers win 10th straight, defeat Southwest Baptist 93-81

Sara Mendel sets new program single-season double-double record in victory

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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The Drury Lady Panthers won their 10th straight game on Thursday, defeating Southwest Baptist 93-81 in Springfield, Missouri. Sara Mendel set a new program single-season double-double record, recording her 19th double-double of the season. The game was tightly contested, with the teams trading leads throughout, but Drury pulled away in the fourth quarter to secure the victory.

Why it matters

This win extends Drury's winning streak to 10 games, tying the longest streak in the GLVC this season. The Lady Panthers also remain in contention for the GLVC title, though they have dropped to third in the conference's Point Rating System standings despite having only two losses.

The details

The game was close throughout, with the teams trading leads in the first half. Drury took a 47-42 lead into halftime, then grew the lead to 8 points before Southwest Baptist went on a 10-0 run to take the lead in the third quarter. However, the Lady Panthers responded with an 18-6 run to end the third and take a 10-point advantage into the fourth. Southwest Baptist cut the lead to 3 points late, but Drury pulled away in the final minute to win by 12.

  • The game was played on Thursday, February 19, 2026.
  • Sara Mendel broke the Drury single-season double-double record at the 4:32 mark of the fourth quarter.

The players

Sara Mendel

A standout player for the Drury Lady Panthers, Mendel set a new program single-season double-double record with her 19th of the year in this game.

Kaylee King

The Drury guard scored a career-high 20 points and dished out a game-high 6 assists in the victory.

Rhi Gibbons

The Drury guard's 28-game double-digit scoring streak came to an end as she left the game early due to a cut above her eye.

Kaci Bailey

The head coach of the Drury Lady Panthers, who praised her team's ability to step up when Gibbons went down with an injury.

Eviyon Richardson

The leading scorer for Southwest Baptist, pouring in 21 points in the losing effort.

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What they’re saying

“It was a great job by all of our girls to step up when Rhi went down. Sara breaking the record just shows how much work she has put in and the dedication she has. There have been great players before her, and she sits above all of them.”

— Kaci Bailey, Head Coach, Drury Lady Panthers

What’s next

The Lady Panthers will host first-place UMSL next Thursday, February 27, 2026 at 5:45 pm in a key GLVC matchup.

The takeaway

Drury's ability to overcome the loss of a key player like Rhi Gibbons and still secure a double-digit victory, coupled with Sara Mendel's record-breaking performance, demonstrates the depth and talent of this Lady Panthers squad as they continue their push for the GLVC title.