ASHLAND, Ohio – An early second half run brought Ohio Dominican's women's basketball team within striking distance of host Ashland, but the defending national champions responded to send the Panthers to a 75-61 road defeat Thursday night in GLIAC play.

The Panthers cut a 15-point halftime deficit to six on a pair of occasions but couldn't get over the top in dropping to 7-10 (4-9 GLIAC). Ashland improved to 10-7 (8-5 GLIAC).

Junior guard Kacee Hockenberry (Haviland, Ohio) led the Panthers with 19 points on 8-of-16 shooting and sophomore forward Melissa Scherpenberg (Cincinnati, Ohio) tallied her third double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Freshman guard Tori Beth Leader (West Portsmouth, Ohio) came off the bench to score 10 points with five rebounds, while classmate Lauren Bates (Hilliard, Ohio) had eight points, six rebounds and tied a season-high with four steals.

After Ashland went on a 13-0 run to start the game, Leader hit a three from the right wing, then found Bates cutting to the basket for layup. Hockenberry's driving layup cut the score to 13-7, but the Eagles responded with an 11-3 run to go in front 24-10 at the midway mark.

Senior Mykeila Mast (Millersburg, Ohio) helped keep the Panthers in it in her first action of the season. She scored on a layup, assisted on a deep jumper by freshman Kayla Cook (Westerville, Ohio), then knocked down a three to cut the deficit to 34-24 with 1:37 left.

But Ashland scored the final five points of the half, including a three to beat the buzzer, to take a 39-24 lead at intermission.

Keyed by an improved defensive effort to start the second half, the Panthers drew within 43-37 as Scherpenberg grabbed an offensive rebound and kicked to Bates for an open jumper.

The Panthers still trailed by six at 45-39, but Ashland scored the next eight points to go in front 53-39 midway through the second half. ODU would not draw closer than 12 points down the stretch.

Mast had a strong effort, finishing with seven points in 16 minutes, while freshman Madi Rittinger (Dayton, Ohio) grabbed nine rebounds.

The Panthers shot 34.9 percent (22-of-63) from the field, compared to 45.8 percent (27-of-59) for the Eagles. ODU had a 45-38 edge in rebounding, but Ashland turned 18 Panther turnovers into 22 points.

The Panthers remain on the road for a 1 p.m. contest Saturday at Lake Erie.

Contact: Scott Miles
miless@ohiodominican.edu