By Sports Information Intern Aaron McPherson

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio Dominican's women's basketball team suffered an 80-67 loss to Walsh at Alumni Hall on Thursday, losing its first game since January 28 at Ashland (66-62) and falling in only its second game in the last 13 contests.

The Panthers (18-6, 13-5 GLIAC) were outrebounded 43-30, marking the first time Ohio Dominican has lost the advantage on the glass in the past 13 games.

Fourteen turnovers mark a season-low for the Panthers. Free throw shooting was also a positive for the Panthers, who recorded a season-high 94.1 percent on 16-of-17 from the charity stripe.

Ohio Dominican began the game on a 10-5 run with four Panthers scoring in the early going. Walsh responded with a 9-0 run and took a 19-12 lead into the second quarter. Senior Melissa Scherpenberg (Cincinnati, OH) recoded five points and five rebounds in the first quarter.

The Panthers pulled within three with 6:12 remaining in the second quarter on a three-point play by senior Rachel Torey (Sterling Heights, MI), cutting the deficit to 20-17, but Walsh never let its lead slip under three points in the quarter, outscoring the Panthers 20-10 for the remainder of the quarter and taking a 40-27 lead into halftime.  Scherpenberg paced Ohio Dominican at the half with nine points and seven rebounds.

Walsh held its largest lead of the game at the 9:44 mark of the third quarter with a 42-27 advantage. The Panthers used a 10-3 run to pull within eight with 4:48 to go in the quarter, and went into the final frame trailing Walsh 57-47.

Ohio Dominican began the fourth quarter on a 7-0 run. Junior Lauren Bates (Hilliard, OH) connected on a three-pointer in the corner, then came up with a steal on the defensive end and hit a jumper in transition from the free throw line to cut the deficit to 57-52. Junior Madi Rittinger (Dayton, OH) hit a layup on an assist from Bates, and the Panthers pulled to within three with 8:34 remaining, trailing 57-54.

Walsh responded, going on a 10-2 run over the next 4:22 and extended its lead to 67-56 with 4:17 to go. The Cavaliers maintained their advantage and won by a final score of 80-67.

Bates led the Panthers with 14 points. Scherpenberg finished with 13 points and 12 rebounds, recording her third-straight double-double and 15th double-double of the season. Sophomore Darian Rose (Fort Loramie, OH) added 12 points on 5-of-10 shooting. Rittinger recorded nine points and six assists.

Ohio Dominican will face Malone (7-16, 4-14 GLIAC) in a GLIAC South matchup on Saturday at 1 p.m. in a GLIAC South matchup.

Contact: Scott Miles
miless@ohiodominican.edu