COLUMBUS, Ohio – Freshman forward Melissa Scherpenberg (Cincinnati, Ohio) hit a turnaround three to send the game to overtime, but Ohio Dominican's women's basketball team was outscored by Malone 14-4 in the extra session as the Panthers fell 82-72 in GLIAC play Saturday.

Sophomore guard Kacee Hockenberry (Haviland, Ohio) had her fourth straight game of 20 or more points, finishing with 24 points, to go along with six rebounds and four steals. Scherpenberg had her fourth double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds, and freshman guard Rachael Torey (Sterling Heights, Mich.) added 14 points.

The Panthers had a pair of 10-point leads in the second half, including 56-46 with 7:51 to play, before Malone rallied. The Pioneers cut the ODU advantage to 63-59 with 2:26 left, but Torey answered with a layup that put ODU back in front by six with two minutes left.

Malone then scored the next nine points, hitting a trio of shots and two free throws as the Panthers misfired on three straight shots themselves. The two free throws staked Malone to a 68-65 edge with just under 16 seconds left.

Hockenberry brought the ball up the floor for the Panthers, was trapped and swung it to Scherpenberg, who let it fly from in front of the ODU bench. The heave went in with 2.7 seconds left, and Malone could not get a desperation shot off, sending the game to overtime.

In overtime, the Pioneers scored two quick buckets to go in front 72-68. Junior forward Katelyn Stuckey (Millersburg, Ohio) made a tough layup underneath before the shot clock expired to bring the Panthers within two, but the Pioneers had a buzzer beater of their own on the other end as Deborah Simmers hit a three as the horn went off that put MU in front 75-70 with 2:29 left.

Malone pushed its lead to 77-70 before Hockenberry hit a short jump shot with just over a minute to play, but the Panthers could draw no closer down the stretch.

The Pioneers hit 5-of-6 shots in overtime and went 3-for-4 from the line, while ODU shot 2-of-7 from the floor in the extra period.

The early portion of the first half featured three ties and eight lead changes before the Panthers earned some separation. Down 15-13 at the midway point, Hockenberry stuck a three, then hit another jump shot to give ODU an 18-13. Then, on consecutive possessions, Scherpenberg was rewarded for running the floor as she drew a foul in transition, leading to a pair of free throws, then finished with her left hand on the next play on a dish from sophomore guard Micaela Liddane (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich.).

Later, Liddane hit a jumper from the top of the key to give ODU a 24-15 lead, capping an 11-0 run. Malone, which went scoreless for nearly seven minutes, got to within 26-21, but Hockenberry went the length of the floor and buried a tough jumper in the paint before the halftime buzzer to put the Panthers in front 28-21 at the break.

For the game, ODU shot 44.1 percent (26-of-59), while the Pioneers finished 31-of-61 (50.8 percent). MU shot 22-of-36 in the game's final 25 minutes.

Ohio Dominican remains at home next week as the Panthers welcome No. 1 Ashland to Alumni Hall for a 7:30 p.m. tip.

Contact: Scott Miles
miless@ohiodominican.edu