MARQUETTE, Mich. – Ohio Dominican's women's basketball team trailed 60-58 in the waning minutes, but Northern Michigan pulled away down the stretch as the Panthers fell 70-62 on the road in GLIAC play Sunday afternoon.

The Panthers fell to 8-4 (3-3 GLIAC) as ODU shot 37.3 percent for the floor, compared to 47.1 percent for the Wildcats.

A three-point play by sophomore Sarah Futscher (Wilder, Ky.) gave ODU a 48-47 lead early in the fourth, and sophomore Megan Eyre (Fayetteville, Ohio) hit a jump shot to make it 50-50 with 8:13 left. That, however, would be the last lead and tie for the Panthers in the quarter.

The Panthers went scoreless for nearly three minutes before Futscher hit a jumper with 4:22 left to bring ODU back within 55-54, but the Wildcats countered with a three-pointer to go back in front by four.

Junior Madi Rittinger (Dayton, Ohio) made two free throws and a deep jump shot to keep the Panthers within two, 60-58, with 2:13 to play, but another triple by NMU bumped its lead to 63-58 with 1:55 left. ODU missed its next two shots, and the Wildcats sank three free throws to pull away.

Futscher had a career performance with 13 points and eight rebounds, going 7-for-7 from the free throw line. She was the lone player in double figures though.

Junior Lindsey Blanford (Xenia, Ohio) added nine points off the bench, matching a season-best, while Rittinger and senior Melissa Scherpenberg (Cincinnati, Ohio) each scored eight.

The game featured 13 ties and 16 lead changes as neither side led by more than six until the final minute of the contest.

The Panthers led 19-16 after the first quarter and had a 31-28 lead late in the second quarter before NMU scored the last four points to take a 32-31 advantage into the locker room.

The Panthers fell behind 39-33 two minutes into the third quarter, but stormed back as senior Rachael Torey (Sterling Heights, Mich.) and Blanford each hit threes and Futscher hit a jumper to help put ODU back in front 45-43. ODU did not score over the final 4:20 of the quarter, though, and trailed 47-45 going into the fourth.

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

Contact: Scott Miles
miless@ohiodominican.edu