COLUMBUS, Ohio – Sophomore guard Kacee Hockenberry (Haviland, Ohio) and junior forward Katelyn Stuckey (Millersburg, Ohio) both scored in double figures, but Ohio Dominican's women's basketball team fell 54-46 to Northern Michigan Sunday in GLIAC play at Alumni Hall.

Hockenberry finished with 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting, while also pulling down five boards. Stuckey tallied 10 points and also had three steals, while freshman forward Melissa Scherpenberg (Cincinnati, Ohio) had seven points and a game-high 12 rebounds.

The Panthers out-shot the Wildcats from the field, finishing at 39.0 percent to 36.4 percent shooting for NMU, but the visitors attempted 14 more field goals, had a 39-31 edge in rebounding, and committed 11 turnovers to ODU's 18.

Stuckey scored ODU's first seven points as the game was nip-and-tuck during the opening 20 minutes. Sophomore guard Paige Stought (Pickerington, Ohio) hit two free throws that gave the Panthers a 12-11 lead midway through the first half, and later buried a three-pointer that put ODU in front 17-16 with 6:01 to play in the first half.

Northern Michigan closed the half with a modest 8-3 run, though, to take a 25-20 lead into the locker room.

Early in the second half, sophomore guard Holly Brunswick (Fort Recovery, Ohio) drilled a triple from the corner that kept the Panthers within four at 29-25. NMU answered with an 18-3 run over an eight minute stretch, though, to go in front 47-28 with 8:16 left.

The Panthers cut it to 49-40 on a Hockenberry three-pointer with 2:56 to play, but NMU responded with a three-pointer as the shot clock expired on its next possession to regain control of the game.

With the setback, ODU fell to 3-6 (0-6 GLIAC), while the Wildcats improved to 7-2 (4-1 GLIAC).

The Panthers return to action at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 3 at Lake Superior State in GLIAC play.

Contact: Scott Miles
miless@ohiodominican.edu