COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio Dominican's women's basketball team wrapped up their home-game stretch against the visiting Purple Panthers of Kentucky Wesleyan in a highly competitive match. The game remained tight for much of the contest, but Kentucky Wesleyan broke away in the final quarter to secure a 70-55 victory, fueled by a strong offensive performance and timely shooting. 

ODU managed to score 34 of their points in the paint, keeping the game close. However, the team struggled to capitalize on Kentucky Wesleyan's turnovers, scoring only 12 points off them compared to KWC's 19 points off ODU's mistakes. The bench for Ohio Dominican also struggled, with only 16 points coming from reserves, while KWC's bench contributed 25 points.

Ohio Dominican finished the game shooting 38.7% from the field, 25% from beyond the arc, and 70% from the free throw line.The Purple Panthers shot 48.3% from the field, 35.7% from three-point range, and 69.2% from the free throw line.

Gabby Stare led Ohio Dominican with 15 points, four rebounds, and two steals. Guard Brynn Mullet added 12 points, shooting 5-13 from the field and playing 36 minutes. Jenna Shackleford finished with 8 points and 4 rebounds, shooting 3-5 from the field.  

First Half Notes 

Both teams came out strong in the opening quarter, with Ohio Dominican shooting 44.4% from the field, compared to KWC's 41.2%. Despite this, KWC made up for their slightly lower shooting percentage with strong three-point shooting (42.9%), while ODU shot 33% from beyond the arc. Both teams finished the first quarter tied with 19 points each. 

Ohio Dominican outshot Kentucky Wesleyan in the second quarter, shooting 38.9% from the field and 33% from three-point range. KWC's shooting cooled down to 35.7% from the field and just 14.3% from beyond the arc, but they found success at the free throw line, hitting 5-7. ODU took a slight lead heading into halftime, 37-35. 

Second Half Notes 

The third quarter was another tight affair. KWC outscored ODU by 2 points, 19-17, with improved shooting (47.1% from the field) and hitting 3 of their 9 three-point attempts. ODU shot 42.9% in the quarter but struggled from beyond the arc (1-3). Heading into the final quarter, the game was still up for grabs, with ODU holding a slim 54-53 lead. 

The final quarter proved to be the turning point. Kentucky Wesleyan started the quarter with a dominant 9-0 run, setting the tone for the rest of the period. KWC shot a blistering 80% from the field and 60% from behind the arc. In contrast, Ohio Dominican had a tough shooting quarter, making just 25% of their shots from the field and failing to make a single three-pointer. ODU could only muster 6 points in the quarter, as KWC's offense overwhelmed them to seal a 21-6 advantage in the final frame, securing a 70-55 victory. 

Up Next
Ohio Dominican will look to bounce back in their next game on the road against the Lake Erie Storm on Saturday, at 1 PM inside Osborne Center.