COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio Dominican women's basketball team welcomed Cedarville University to Sunbury Road for the first time this season for the first game in their home-and-home.  

The Yellow Jackets opened the game on a 5-0 run to take an early advantage. Senior Bailey Williams (Dublin, Ohio) broke up the run by converting a turnaround jumper to trim the visitors led to 5-2. Guard Kennedy Schlabach (Millersburg, Ohio) tallied the next four Panther points to give the Black and Gold a 6-5 lead early on.

Cedarville converted its next four baskets to recapture the lead and establish a 14-8 lead. The Black and Gold retaliated by closing the opening quarter going 3-for-3 to cut the lead to 18-15.

The Yellow Jackets opened the second quarter on an 8-0 run and opened up the lead to 28-20. Freshman Kayla McClendon (Columbus, Ohio) converted a layup with 3:30 remaining in the first half to cut into the CU lead. Freshman Brynn Mullet (Berlin, Ohio) poured in a three-pointer with 2:24 remaining in the half to trim the lead to five points.

Gabby Stare (Newark, Ohio) began the second-half scoring for the Panthers draining a jumper to cut the deficit to 36-30. Stare continued the ODU scoring running trimming the lead to four points with 8:18 remaining in the third quarter. The Cedarville lead reached as many as 13 points before the Black and Gold went on a 9-0 run to close the quarter and trim the lead to 51-49 heading into the final quarter.

ODU saw its lead get as large as three points but a late scoring charge from the Yellow Jackets gave the visitors a 63-62 lead with 2:11 remaining in regulation. CU converted another basket with 44 seconds remaining to extend their lead to three points. Williams stepped up to convert a critical three-pointer for the Panthers with 30 seconds remaining to tie the game and force overtime.

Stare and Schlabach converted the Panthers first three baskets of the overtime period to grab a 70-65 advantage. An 8-0 run from Cedarville gave the Jackets a three-point lead with 1:13 remaining. ODU attempted to cut into the lead, but it proved too much as the Black and Gold fell 77-74 in overtime.

Four Panthers finished in double figures with Schlabach and Stare pouring in 20 points each, Williams adding 17 points, and Mullet pouring in 11 from the field.

UP NEXT

Both clubs return to action on Saturday in Cedarville to conclude the two-game series. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 PM.

Contact: Ralph Schudel
schudelr@ohiodominican.edu