HILLSDALE, MI – Make it four victories in a row for Ohio Dominican women's basketball as all five Panther starters finished in double-figures as they defeated Hillsdale College 87-80 on the road Saturday afternoon.

Senior Angela Troyer (Sugarcreek, Ohio) shined as she tallied 25 points and four rebounds in a victorious effort, but it was classmate Olivia Fox (Newark, Ohio) who stole the show as she was perfect from the field in the second half to lead the Black and Gold comeback.

ODU set the tone in the opening minutes of the game as junior Alli Kern (Waterford, Ohio) converted two quick three-pointers to give the visitors their first six points of the day. The Panthers opened the game on a 14-7 run but Hillsdale orchestrated an 11-2 run of its own to capture the lead at the end of the first quarter.

A three-pointer from Troyer recaptured the advantage for the Panthers just two minutes into the second quarter. The visitors saw their lead grow to as much as seven points before the Chargers attempted to flip the script.

Hillsdale's Grace Touchette and Arianna Sysum's 14 points during the second quarter gave the host's momentum and allowed them to carry an advantage heading into the locker room at halftime.

Both teams traded baskets throughout the opening moments of the third quarter but a layup from junior Kennedy Schlabach (Millersberg, Ohio) to make it 51-49 with 6:28 remaining in the quarter provided the spark the Panthers needed to power forward.

That's where Fox went to work, scoring 11 of her 21 points and not missing a shot in the paint as she played a role in extending the ODU advantage. Troyer added seven points as the Panthers closed the third quarter with a 65-60 advantage.

Fox continued to perform well as Hillsdale simply couldn't provide an answer for the forward. The senior was uncontested, scoring six points and grabbing four rebounds in the final quarter. Both teams traded chances but the Black and Gold made the most of their opportunities, converting 50-percent of their field goals, compared to the Chargers who converted just 35-percent of their shots in the final stanza.

The Panthers 24 points in the paint during the second half proved the difference as the visitors claimed a valuable road win Saturday afternoon.

It's a day off for ODU as they journey home to rest on Sunday, but it's right back to work for the Black and Gold as they face Walsh on Monday evening. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. from Alumni Hall.

Contact: Ralph Schudel
schudelr@ohiodominican.edu