MIDLAND, Mich. – Ohio Dominican's women's basketball team made a late run, but the Panthers were plagued by 23 turnovers as ODU fell 66-59 at Northwood Saturday in GLIAC play from the Bennett Center.

With the setback, ODU fell to 4-7 (1-7 GLIAC), while the Timberwolves improved to 7-7 (5-3 GLIAC).

Sophomore guard Kacee Hockenberry (Haviland, Ohio) scored 20 points, junior forward Katelyn Stuckey (Millersburg, Ohio) added 11, and freshman forward Melissa Scherpenberg (Cincinnati, Ohio) chipped in with eight points and a game-high12 rebounds.

Sophomore guard Micaela Liddane (Grosse Point Woods, Mich.) finished with a season-best seven assists as well for the Panthers, who trailed by as many as 25 in the second half before pulling within six in the final minute.

The Panthers trailed 5-4 in the early minutes, but Northwood answered by scoring the next 10 points to build a 15-4 lead at the 12:28 mark. ODU hung around, as Rachael Torey (Sterling Heights, Mich.) went coast-to-coast for a layup that brought ODU to within 19-12 with 8:01 left in the half, but NU again went on another run, scoring the next seven points to rebuild a double-digit lead at 26-12.

The Timberwolves would take a 34-20 lead into the break as the Panthers turned the ball over 14 times and shot 35 percent from the field (7-of-20).

Northwood then started the second half on a 13-2 run to go in front 47-22, and the Timberwolves were still up by as many as 24 (60-36) with 7:35 left.

ODU went on its run at that point, with Hockenberry scoring eight of ODU's next 10 points to get the Panthers within 16 at 62-46 with 3:31 left. Consecutive layups by freshman forward Alex Hallenbeck (St. Johns, Mich.) made it a 10-point game, 65-55.

Liddane then buried a three-pointer from in front of the Panther bench, came away with a steal on the ensuing inbounds pass and was fouled, hitting one of two free throws to make it 65-59 with 33 seconds left.

Northwood split a pair of free throws, but ODU missed its final three shots in the waning seconds to fall short in its comeback. Overall, the Panthers went on a 23-6 run to close the game.

The Panthers shot 44 percent (22-of-50) from the field, while Northwood finished at 43.4 percent (23-of-53). ODU held a 37-26 edge on the glass as well.

Hockenberry added five rebounds and four steals to her 20-point effort.

Ohio Dominican begins GLIAC South Division play at 8 p.m. Thursday at Findlay.

Contact: Scott Miles
miless@ohiodominican.edu