MIDLAND, Mich. – Ohio Dominican's women's basketball team tied a school record by making 32 free throws, but the Panthers couldn't hold on to a six point halftime lead as ODU fell 81-75 at Northwood Saturday afternoon in GLIAC.

With the setback, the Panthers dropped to 4-10 (1-7 GLIAC), while the Timberwolves improved to 10-4 (6-2 GLIAC).

ODU went 32-of-35 (91.4 percent) from the charity stripe, tying a record set in 1997 against Wilmington for most free throws made. But the Panthers made just 1-of-8 from behind the three point line and shot 38.9 percent (21-of-64) from the field while committing 21 turnovers in the loss.

Senior guard Kacee Hockenberry (Haviland, Ohio) scored 19 points, going 11-for-11 from the free throw line. Junior forward Melissa Scherpenberg (Cincinnati, Ohio) notched her ninth double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds and sophomore guard Lindsey Blanford (Xenia, Ohio) scored a career-high 10 points.

Sophomore guard Lauren Bates (Hilliard, Ohio) tallied eight points, four assists and four steals, and senior guard Micaela Liddane (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich.) and sophomore guard Kayla Cook (Westerville, Ohio) each scored seven points.

Ohio Dominican raced out to an 11 point lead in the first half, as Blanford hit four free throws, Cook drilled a three and Hockenberry tacked on two more free throws to give ODU a 27-16 edge with eight minutes to play in the first half.

The Panthers, who made nine of their first 12 shots, saw their lead cut to two points in the last minute of the half, but two Scherpenberg free throws and a Cook layup gave ODU a 44-38 edge at the break. ODU shot 52.2 percent from the field and hit 19-of-20 free throws (95 percent), their best mark in a half this season.

But Northwood started the second half on a 25-10 run to go in front 63-54 with 10 minutes left, and the Timberwolves led by as much as 14 (76-62) with 5:34 to play.

ODU made a run, though. The Panthers made eight free throws in a 2:23 stretch to cut the Northwood lead to 78-75 with 1:10 left, and Scherpenberg rebounded a missed NU shot to give the Panthers possession of the ball with 53 seconds.

ODU missed a shot, grabbed the offensive rebound but turned it over, giving the ball back to Northwood with 42 seconds. The Panthers forced a turnover, but missed another shot with 17 seconds to play, and Northwood hit three free throws down the stretch to pull away with the win.

Ohio Dominican returns to action at 5:30 p.m. Thursday against Findlay in Alumni Hall.

Contact: Scott Miles
miless@ohiodominican.edu