COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio Dominican's women's basketball team was just a couple of possessions away from taking the lead for much of the game against Wayne State (Mich.), but in the end could never get over the hump as the Panthers fell, 72-55, Saturday afternoon at Alumni Hall.

With the win, the short-handed Warriors claim the season series with ODU, improving to 4-12 and 4-6 in the GLIAC. After winning three of five, the Panthers have now lost two straight to fall to 4-12 and 2-8 in the conference.

After struggling in the opening half against Northwood on Thursday, ODU scored the opening basket and posted a five-point lead on three different occasions against WSU. Leading 21-20 with just over two to play, Abby Glover (Jr./Centerville, OH) sank a free throw and lined up a three-pointer as ODU matched their largest lead of the half, 25-20 at the 1:33 mark. The Warriors responded with six unanswered points over the final minute of the half, sandwiching a layup and jumper around a pair of free throws to enter the break with a 26-25 lead.

Despite shooting only 9-of-27 (33.3 percent), the Panthers trailed for only 22 seconds in the first. However, Wayne State was able to carry the momentum through the break, scoring five points over the first 50 seconds of the second half to extend the lead to 31-25. Katy Rasor (Jr./Grove City, OH) brought ODU to within one with three-pointers on two separate occasions, the last at 36-35 with 15:53 left to play. The Panthers would get no closer though as the Warriors scored 46 in the second, including 14-of-16 shooting from the charity stripe over the final five minutes to secure the road victory.

Glover paced the Panthers with 13 points, including 6-of-8 from the free throw line and seven boards, while Meredith Fox (Jr./Springboro, OH) added 11.

Wayne State finished 24-of-28 (85.7 percent) on free throws, including 22-of-26 (84.6 percent) in the second. Phaebre Colbert led the Warriors with game-highs of 21 points on 8-of-15 shooting and 11 rebounds to go along with a game-high five steals. Paige Sickmiller finished with 13 and Chelsea Kouri added 10 off the bench.

The Panthers continue their homestand next Thursday, Jan. 27 at 7:30 p.m. as Lake Superior State visits Alumni Hall for a men's and women's conference basketball doubleheader.

Contact: Bryan Desch
deschb@ohiodominican.edu