By Sports Information Intern Aaron McPherson

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A 25-3 run to begin the game was enough to set the tone in an 84-63 Senior Day victory for the Ohio Dominican women's basketball team against Lake Erie on Saturday at Alumni Hall.

The victory earns the Panthers (20-7, 15-6 GLIAC) their first 20-win season since 2007-2008, when they finished 22-10.

ODU tied its season-high for assists in a game with 24. The Panthers outscored Lake Erie 36-18 in the paint and outrebounded the Storm 51-32. Ohio Dominican shot 49.2 percent for the game and held Lake Erie to 33.9 percent shooting.

The Panthers' first quarter run started with an 11-0 spurt, led by senior Melissa Scherpenberg (Cincinnati, OH) with five early points. Leading 11-2 with 5:57 remaining in the quarter, junior Lauren Bates (Hilliard, OH) scored on a fast-break layup assisted by senior Rachael Torey (Sterling Heights, MI) to begin a 14-1 spurt for the Panthers, extending their lead to 25-3 at the 2:33 mark of the first quarter. Ohio Dominican led 31-8 at the end of one, with eight Panthers scoring in the opening period. ODU shot 66.7 percent (12-of-18 shooting), outrebounded Lake Erie 15-6 and recorded 10 assists in the opening quarter.  

The Panthers went into halftime with a 43-21 lead. Bates led ODU at the break with 10 points on five-of-six shooting and six rebounds. Scherpenberg finished the half with seven points and five rebounds. Junior Jackie Oestreich (Brighton, MI) pitched in with seven points and four boards. Ohio Dominican outscored Lake Erie 18-8 in the paint in the first half and held a 29-20 rebounding advantage at the break.

The Panthers maintained their advantage through the third quarter, going into the fourth with a 65-45 lead and carried it throughout the final period to win 84-63.

Scherpenberg finished with 18 points and 14 rebounds to lead ODU and Torey dished out five assists on senior day. Sophomore Darian Rose (Fort Loramie, OH) added 14 points. Oestreich finished with a season-high 12 points and pulled down eight rebounds. Bates chipped in with 12 points on six-of-nine shooting and seven rebounds. Junior Lindsey Blanford (Xenia, OH) added eight points on three-of-five shooting.

ODU finishes the 2015-16 regular season with a road contest at Tiffin on Thursday at 6 p.m. before competing in the GLIAC women's basketball tournament for the first time.

Contact: Scott Miles
miless@ohiodominican.edu