Box Score Coach Lynsey Warren Interview
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Leading 56-42 with under six to play against visiting Northwood (Mich.), Ohio Dominican's women's basketball team withstood a furious 17-4 rally by the Timberwolves in the closing minutes to take the 60-59 win Thursday evening.
In position for their first home win since Dec. 1 with the 14-point advantage late in the second at the 5:38 mark, the Panthers went scoreless for nearly four minutes as Northwood rattled off 15 unanswered points for a 57-56 edge with 1:42 to play and its first lead since 4-2 in the first. With 39 ticks remaining, senior Abby Glover (Centerville, OH) finished a driving lay-up through contact and connected on an ensuing free throw to put ODU back up two.
Rachel Church knotted the game back up with lay-in at the other end, however a blocking foul at the top of the lane against Gabrielle Rivette allowed senior Meredith Fox (Springboro, OH) to hit the decisive free throw, splitting a pair at the line with four seconds left to seal the win.
ODU opened the evening with one of its best starts this season as the Panthers turned an early four-point deficit into a 15-6 lead six and half minutes in. Freshman Kacee Hockenberry (Haviland, OH) tallied 10 of the 15 points during the run, connecting on three straight jumpers to begin the game followed by 4-of-4 shooting at the stripe.
Hockenberry finished with 14 points, three assists and three steals to lead ODU, while Glover and sophomore Katelyn Stuckey (Millersburg, OH) each added 13 on a combined 11-of-19 from the floor. ODU ended the night with a 34-30 edge in the paint and 28-12 advantage in points off turnover as the Panthers shot 46.2 percent (24-of-52) overall, including 13-of-26 in the second.
The Panthers improve to 6-10 on the year and 2-8 in the GLIAC with the win, ending a decade-worst 10-game losing streak, while the Timberwolves fall to 7-9 and 2-7 with their fifth straight road setback.
ODU concludes the two-game home set at 1 p.m. this Saturday as South Division foe Wayne State (Mich.) visits for the series finale.
Contact: Bryan Desch
deschb@ohiodominican.edu
