Pride fall to Doane in second end of back-to-backs on opening week

OMAHA, Neb. - Continuing the start of their 2025-26 season at the CSM Classic in Omaha, Neb., the Clarke University women's basketball team suffered their first loss of the year with a 71-58 final score against Doane University.

The neutral site game saw the Tigers have a significantly more efficient offensive performance on their way to really pulling away in the second half after leading by three at the halftime break, outscoring CU 59-40 after a first quarter in which Clarke lead 18-12 after 10 minutes.

Despite turning the ball over 19 times and grabbing six less offensive rebounds, Doane still made more shots from the field than the Pride despite taking 21 less attempts from the field in the game with DU shooting 45.6 percent (26-57) overall to CU's 29.5 percent (23-78) and went 12-for-19 (63.2%) from the free throw line with Clarke only attempting eight free throws.

Three members of the Tiger lineup scored in double figures led by a 23-point, 14-rebound double-double from Megban Chambers as she went 8-for-12 (66.7%) from the field and a perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line as 13 of her 14 rebounds came on the defensive end while adding three assists and two steals.

Clarke's leading scorer was senior guard Hailey Walters as she produced 19 points but took 19 shots to get there, going 8-for-19 (42.1%) from the field and 3-of-9 (33.3%) from three as she also grabbed three rebounds and three steals in 28 minutes.

After quality games a day prior, junior guards Josie Potts and Zoe Kennedy had rough shooting days on Friday as Kennedy was still able to stuff the stat sheet a bit with 12 points, nine rebounds, and four assists but went 4-for-19 (21.1%) from the field and eventually fouled out late in the game as Potts struggled to a 1-for-11 (9.1%) game from the field after producing her first career double-double in the opener against College of Saint Mary.

Also dealing with a bit of foul trouble, Reese Ryan was a point and two rebounds away from a double double at nine points and eight rebounds in 32 minutes and Camdyn kay finished with five points, a carrer-high eight rebounds, two steals, and an assist on the day.

Pride women's basketball will return to Dubuque for their next game to serve as their home opener when they welcome in Trinity Christian College on Tuesday, Nov. 4 for a 6:00 p.m. CT scheduled opening tip against the Trolls in the Kehl Center.