COLUMBUS, Ohio – A game-changing 14-0 second half run propelled Ohio Dominican's women's basketball to a 60-46 victory over Notre Dame in Friday night's season-opener at Alumni Hall.

The victory made head coach Lynsey Warren's debut a successful one as the Panthers broke from a 36-36 game midway through the second period.

Sophomore guard Kacee Hockenberry (Haviland, Ohio) matched her career-high with 18 points while also grabbing six rebounds, and junior forward Katelyn Stuckey (Millersburg, Ohio) added 16 points and eight rebounds to lead the Panthers.

ODU led 36-31 early in the second half before Notre Dame came back with five straight points to tie it with 12:58 to play. Stuckey and freshman center Melissa Scherpenberg (Cincinnati, Ohio) then scored the next eight points for the Panthers, all on layups, to give the Panthers a 44-36 cushion.

Junior guard Mykeila Mast (Millersburg, Ohio) then hit two free throws, and Hockenberry came down with a steal and went coast-to-coast to finish to bump the Panther lead to 48-36. A free throw by freshman guard Rachael Torey (Sterling Heights, Mich.) and Stuckey gave the Panthers a 50-36 edge with 8:40 left, and Notre Dame never got within 12 points the remainder of the contest.

The Panther defense forced Notre Dame into 22 turnovers and held the Falcons to 27.5 percent (14-of-51), including just 5-of-23 (21.7 percent) after intermission. ODU, which was down in the rebounding battle early, finished with a 44-40 advantage on the glass.

Both teams struggled to gain traction in the first half, with neither side leading by more than five points. Hockenberry scored six straight points to give ODU a 24-19 lead with just under six minutes to play, a jumper by sophomore Micaela Liddane (Grosse Point Woods, Mich.) late in the half kept the advantage at five, but Notre Dame would close the half with a transition layup to draw even at 26 apiece.

Torey scored eight points in her ODU debut, Scherpenberg had six with five rebounds, and Mast finished with six points to help lead the Panthers.

Ohio Dominican remains at home for a 6 p.m. tipoff Tuesday against Salem International in Alumni Hall.

Contact: Scott Miles
miless@ohiodominican.edu