WEST LIBERTY, W. Va. – Despite leading by as many as 19 points, the Ohio Dominican women's basketball team couldn't withstand a second-half surge from West Liberty University as the Black and Gold fell to the Hilltoppers by the score of 78-67 on Tuesday evening.

Gabby Stare (Newark, Ohio) paced the Panthers with 21 points.  She was 8-of-12 from the field and led the visitors from the foul line, converting game-high five-of-six attempts from the charity stripe. Freshman Brynn Mullet (Berlin, Ohio) supported Stare by contributing a career-high 14 points to the Black and Gold effort. She was also a leader on the boards, collecting a team-best six on the evening.

Bailey Williams (Dublin, Ohio) and Kennedy Schlabach (Millersburg, Ohio) scored 11 points each and Grace Hete (Akron, Ohio) added a career-best five points to the cause.

ODU began the game shooting a robust 57-percent from the field in the first quarter and scoring 19 points. The visitors improved on their first-quarter total, finishing with 24 points, and shooting 67-percent from the field in the second quarter to take a 16-point advantage into the break at the half.

West Liberty couldn't mount a response in the opening half, shooting just 28-percent from the field rebounded to score 51 points in the second half. The Hilltoppers finished the contest shooting 82-percent from the field in the final quarter thanks to a strong effort from Arriana Manzay who was perfect from the field (11-for-11) and finished with 26 points to lift West Liberty to the 78-67 victory.

UP NEXT

The Panthers conclude the 2021 calendar year on Saturday afternoon as they travel to Midland, Michigan to battle Northwood University. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 PM.

Contact: Ralph Schudel
schudelr@ohiodominican.edu