Lynsey Warren Interview | Lauren Bates Interview

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio Dominican's women's basketball team rallied from a nine-point second half deficit to score a 72-68 home victory over Walsh in GLIAC play Thursday night.

With the win, the Panthers improved to 10-12 (7-11 GLIAC) and stayed alive in the race for the GLIAC Tournament.

The Panthers fell behind 43-34 with 15:48 to play, their largest deficit of the game. A basket by sophomore Melissa Scherpenberg (Cincinnati, Ohio) and a pair of free throws by freshman Lauren Bates (Hilliard, Ohio) cut the lead to 43-38. A basket by junior Kacee Hockenberry (Haviland, Ohio) cut the lead to three with 13:41 to play.

Scherpenberg's basket tied the game at 47 and a triple from the right corner by freshman Kayla Cook (Westerville, Ohio) gave ODU its first lead, 50-49 since the opening minutes of the first half.

Walsh answered with a pair of baskets to tie the game at 52 and regained the lead 54-52 with 7:36 to play. Bates knocked down a jumper to tie the game once more 56-56. After Walsh regained the lead, Rittinger knocked down a 10-footer to tie the game at 58-58 with 4:20 left to play.

Hockenberry then drilled a three from the right corner, which gave the Panthers a 63-60 advantage, and Scherpenberg's free throw gave ODU a two-possession lead with 3:06 left.

Scherpenberg's layup gave the Panthers a 66-61 lead, but the Cavaliers scored four straight and drew within one, 66-65, with 1:08 to play.

Rittinger, sophomore Rachael Torey (Sterling Heights, Mich.) and Scherpenberg each made free throws that staked ODU to a 70-65 lead, but Walsh made one last push, hitting a three with 9.7 seconds left to draw within 70-68.

But Hockenberry was fouled on the ensuing inbounds pass and calmly sank both free throws to make it 72-68, and Walsh's last-gasp three came up short.

ODU trailed by as much as seven, 27-20, late in the first half, but free throws by freshman Madi Rittinger (Dayton, Ohio) and classmate Jackie Oestreich (Brighton, Mich.) knocked down free throws and a three-point basket by Cook brought the Panthers within one. Down by six in the waning seconds, freshman Tori Beth Leader (West Portsmouth, Ohio) basket cut the score to four, 32-28 at the intermission.

Bates paced the Panthers offensively by scoring a career-high 17 points, five assists, and five rebounds. Hockenberry added 16 points and seven rebounds while Scherpenberg posted a double-double with 15 points and 16 rebounds.

Ohio Dominican will host Malone on Saturday, Feb. 15 for a 1 p.m. contest in Alumni Hall.

Contact: Scott Miles
miles@ohiodominican.edu