CANTON, Ohio - The Ohio Dominican women's basketball team sought a road victory in Canton last night but fell just short in a fierce contest, 88-80, against the Walsh Cavaliers. The Panthers put up an impressive fight, scoring 42 points in the paint and capitalizing on Walsh's mistakes with 20 points off turnovers. Ohio Dominican's bench contributed 22 points, while 20 more came from fast break opportunities.  

Sarah Ochs was a standout for the Panthers, playing 39 minutes and shooting 7-13 from the field to collect a team-high 22 points. She also added one rebound and three assists.

Gabby Stare put in an equally determined performance, playing 38 minutes, shooting 8-14 from the field, and going 3-4 from the free throw line. Stare added four rebounds and one assist to her stat line.

Brynn Mullet also contributed significantly, tallying 14 points, four assists, and three rebounds while shooting 5-11 from the floor. 

First Half 

The Panthers started steady in the first quarter, shooting 6-17 (35.29%) from the field and going 4-6 from the free throw line. Despite their effort, Walsh came out firing, shooting an impressive 72.22% (13-18) from the field, including a scorching 75% from beyond the arc. The Cavaliers built an early advantage, outscoring the Panthers 34-17 in the opening frame. 

Ohio Dominican responded well in the second quarter, improving their shooting to 44.44% (8-18) from the field. The Panthers tightened up defensively, holding Walsh to 5-13 shooting (38.46%) and just 2-4 from three-point range. The Panthers won the quarter, outscoring Walsh 19-12, and cut the deficit to 46-38 heading into halftime. 

Second Half 

Coming out of the locker room, the Panthers continued to battle. They shot 45.45% (10-22) from the field in the third quarter, including 60% (3-5) from beyond the arc, while converting all their free throw attempts. Ohio Dominican's offense shined as they put up 25 points in the quarter. However, Walsh remained efficient, shooting 61.54% (8-13) from the floor to stay ahead. Despite the Panthers' efforts, they trailed 65-63 heading into the final frame. 

In the fourth quarter, the Panthers kept pushing, shooting an impressive 54.55% (6-11) from the field and converting 9 of 12 free throw attempts. Walsh, however, maintained their composure and balance, shooting 46.67% (7-15) from the field and going 4-6 from the stripe. 

By the numbers, Walsh scored 38 points in the paint, 43 points from their bench, 19 fast break points, and 14 points off Ohio Dominican turnovers. Despite an aggressive push from the Panthers, Walsh held on for the 88-80 victory. 

Up Next  
The Panthers will look to bounce back at home as they welcome Wheeling to Alumni Hall this Saturday at 2 PM.