Drury dominates rival in regional championship

Drury’s game plan included hitting the accelerator throughout the Midwest Regional Final against Ashland.

It worked: The Eagles ran out of gas in the second quarter and never could get back on track Monday night.

The Lady Panthers never trailed in qualifying for their second Elite Eight in the last three years — and fifth all-time — with an 88-69 victory at O’Reilly Family Event Center.

Drury, 22-1 and ranked second nationally, accomplished the dominating victory by racing to a 17-point halftime lead and then matching every Ashland surge in the second half.

The Lady Panthers scored on 60 percent of their field-goal attempts and 50 percent (6-for-12) of their 3-point shots. They forced 18…