COLUMBUS, Ohio - The ladies of Ohio Dominican's basketball team hosted Wheeling University inside Alumni Hall for a Saturday matchup in Columbus. Ohio Dominican was able to take the win before the holiday, 74-67. 

Key Players 

Brynn Mullet was the standout player for Ohio Dominican, leading the team with 20 points, three steals, and nine rebounds. Jenna Shackleford also had a significant impact, especially in the paint, scoring 16 points while contributing three assists and five rebounds. Sarah Ochs added 15 points to the victory, along with eight rebounds and two assists, providing valuable support for the Panthers. 

As a team, Ohio Dominican was effective in several key areas. They scored 28 points in the paint, showing dominance inside, and capitalized on turnovers, scoring 21 points off them. The bench contributed six points to the effort as well.  

The game was closely contested, with seven lead changes and three ties, highlighting the competitive nature of the matchup. 

First Half 

The Black and Gold Panthers faced an uphill battle early on as they struggled to find their rhythm in the first quarter, while Wheeling came out red-hot.  

The Cardinals went on an 11-0 run to open the game, shooting 40% from the field (6-15) and finishing the quarter strong with 21 points. They also demonstrated impressive long-range shooting, making 3 of 8 three-pointers (37.5%) and converting 6 of 7 free throws.  

Meanwhile, Ohio Dominican (ODU) had a tough start, hitting only 4 of 17 shots (23.5%) and struggling from beyond the arc with an 0-7 mark. They finished the quarter trailing, 21-8. 

The tide started to turn in the second quarter as ODU found their offensive rhythm. They shot a much-improved 64.7%, making 11 of 17 shots. However, their three-point shooting continued to be a challenge, as they went 2-7 from deep, and they didn't have any free throw opportunities. 

On the defensive side, ODU was able to slow down Wheeling's high-paced offense, limiting them to just 6 points in the second quarter. Wheeling's shooting dropped drastically to 25% (3-12) in the second frame, and they missed all five of their three-point attempts. 

By halftime, ODU had reversed the momentum, outscoring Wheeling 24-6 in the second quarter to take a 32-27 lead into the break. 

Second Half 

Wheeling came out strong in the third quarter, looking to make a comeback. They shot 42.1% from the field, hitting 8 of 19 attempts, while Ohio Dominican struggled a bit with their shooting, making only 35.7% of their shots from the field.  

However, the Panthers were able to stay efficient from beyond the arc, shooting 40%, and Wheeling managed to limit ODU to just 15 points in the quarter. Despite this, Wheeling's 19 points in the third left them trailing by only two points, with ODU leading 47-45 going into the final quarter. 

The fourth quarter saw both teams matching each other point for point, as Wheeling and Ohio Dominican each scored 22 points. However, Ohio Dominican was able to maintain their edge by shooting an impressive 66.7% from the field, while Wheeling could only manage 50%.  

ODU also outperformed Wheeling from beyond the arc, hitting 50% of their attempts compared to Wheeling's 25%. At the free-throw line, the Panthers were exceptional, converting 81.8% of their chances, which proved to be crucial down the stretch. 

Ohio Dominican's strong shooting and free throw efficiency were enough to preserve their lead, and they secured a 74-67 victory in Columbus. 

Up Next 

The Panthers will open up the new year hosting a G-MAC matchup with the Hillsdale Chargers at 5:30 PM on January 2 in Columbus. Ohio Dominican faced Hillsdale earlier in the season in Michigan, falling in a close battle, 64-62.