CANTON, Ohio – Ohio Dominican's women's basketball team saw its three game win streak come to a halt with a 60-45 setback at GLIAC South Division leader Malone Saturday.

With the loss, ODU falls to 7-9 (4-8 GLIAC), while the Pioneers improved to 13-5 (8-4 GLIAC).

The Panthers had scored 70 or more points in the last three games, but shot just 35.6 percent (21-of-59) and attempted just two free throws.

Freshman Lauren Bates (Hilliard, Ohio) had eight points and a season and game-high 10 rebounds, while classmate Madi Rittinger (Dayton, Ohio) came off the bench to chip in eight points. Sophomore Alex Hallenbeck (St. Johns, Mich.) matched a season-high with seven points as well.

Malone's efficiency from beyond the arc, especially in the first half, proved to be the difference. After Tori Beth Leader (West Portsmouth, Ohio) knocked down a jumper to tie the game at 13-13, the Pioneers answered with a trio of threes to grab a 22-13 advantage with 5:33 to play in the half.

Hallenbeck hit a jumper and a three – the first triple of her career - to get ODU back within 24-18 with 2:12 left, but Malone scored the final five points of the half, including a three to beat the buzzer, to take a 29-18 lead at the break.

The Panthers then trailed by as much as 15 early in the second half before locking down on defense, holding Malone scoreless for nearly seven minutes. A jumper and a layup by Leader and a layin by Rittinger cut it to 37-29 with just over 12 minutes left, and ODU had several chances to draw closer but missed on three shot attempts.

Malone stopped ODU's run with a triple and a layup to go back in front 42-29, and the lead would grow to as much as 19 down the stretch.

The Pioneers hit nine three-pointers in the game, the most ODU has allowed since the season-opener against Cedarville.

Ohio Dominican remains on the road for a 5:30 p.m. contest at Ashland on Thursday.

Contact: Scott Miles
miless@ohiodominican.edu