The Ottawa University women's basketball team will step away from regular-season competition on Tuesday, Nov. 3, traveling to Springfield, Mo., for an exhibition contest against NCAA Division II Drury University. Tip-off is scheduled to take place at the O'Reilly Family Event Center. The matchup will be the first meeting between the Braves and the Lady Panthers in program history.

Ottawa enters Tuesday's exhibition with a 2-1 overall record after winning two of its first three games of the 2026-27 season. The Braves opened the season with an 81-70 road victory over Graceland University on Oct. 24. Ottawa suffered its first loss of the season on Oct. 30, falling to No. 15 Benedictine College, 76-65, at Baker University. The Braves bounced back on Oct. 31 with an 84-72 victory over Baker University at Benedictine College.

Ottawa is averaging 76.7 points per game while allowing 72.7 points per contest. The Braves are shooting 47 percent from the field, ranking 15th in the NAIA. Ottawa is averaging 40.7 rebounds per game and holds a plus-6.0 rebounding margin over its opponents. The Braves are averaging 12 assists, five steals, and 4.3 blocked shots per game. Ottawa ranks 23rd in the NAIA in blocked shots per game. Defensively, Ottawa is holding opponents to 37.2 percent shooting from the field.

Braves to Watch: McKinley Kruger: Leads Ottawa in scoring, averaging 20.7 points per game. Leads the Braves with seven rebounds per contest. Is shooting 47.4 percent from the field and 92 percent from the free-throw line. Has connected on 23 of her 25 free-throw attempts. Has recorded eight assists and four steals through three games.

Miranda Patterson: Is averaging 16 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. Leads the Braves in field goal percentage at 57.6 percent among players with at least 10 attempts. Has scored 48 points and pulled down 19 rebounds through three contests. Has recorded five assists and two steals.

Dominique Schutte: Is averaging 11 points and three rebounds per game. Has connected on five 3-point field goals this season. Is shooting 100 percent from the free-throw line, making all four attempts. Has recorded four assists and two blocked shots. 

Drury University is an NCAA Division II institution and a member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC). The Lady Panthers were picked to finish third in the 2026-27 GLVC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll, released on Oct. 23. Drury received 171 points and two first-place votes in the preseason poll.

Drury finished the 2025-26 season with a 21-8 overall record, extending its streak of 20-win seasons to 13 consecutive years. The Lady Panthers finished third in the GLVC regular-season standings last season after being selected as the preseason favorite. Drury advanced to the semifinals of the GLVC Tournament before falling to eventual tournament champion Maryville. Head coach Kaci Bailey enters her fourth season leading the Lady Panthers.

By the Numbers
2-1: Ottawa's record through its first three games of the 2026-27 season.
76.7: Points per game averaged by the Braves.
47.0: Ottawa's field goal percentage, ranking 15th nationally in the NAIA.
20.7: Points per game averaged by McKinley Kruger.
40.7: Rebounds per game averaged by Ottawa.
4.3: Blocked shots per game by the Braves, ranking 23rd in the NAIA.
21-8: Drury's overall record during the 2025-26 season.
13: Consecutive 20-win seasons for the Lady Panthers.
3rd: Drury's projected finish in the 2026-27 GLVC Preseason Coaches' Poll.

Ottawa is 2-6 all-time in games designated as exhibitions in the program's opponent history. The Braves' most recent exhibition victory came on Dec. 16, 2022, when Ottawa defeated NCAA Division II William Jewell College 63-62.
Opponent    Record
Rockhurst University    1-1
William Jewell College    1-2
Kansas City (UMKC)    0-1
Emporia State University    0-1
Lindenwood University    0-1
Total    2-6