PAINESVILLE, Ohio - The Ohio Dominican women's basketball team showcased a dominant performance on the road, defeating Lake Erie 80-62 in an impressive conference matchup held in Painesville, Ohio.

Guard Gabby Stare led all scorers with 25 points while adding four rebounds. Stare was efficient from the field, shooting 9-of-15, and made the most of her opportunities at the line, going 7-of-10. Guard Brynn Mullet contributed 14 points and five rebounds, playing 32 minutes of solid play. Sarah Ochs added a strong performance, tallying 13 points, seven rebounds, and perfect free-throw shooting. Forward Jenna Shackleford chipped in 11 points and grabbed three rebounds.

As a team, Ohio Dominican excelled with 42 points in the paint and 18 points off turnovers. The Panthers also grabbed 13 second-chance points and received a boost from their bench, which contributed 10 points.

First Half Notes
Ohio Dominican got off to a sluggish start offensively, shooting just 29.4% from the field in the opening quarter. Despite the cold shooting, their defensive effort shone, limiting Lake Erie to just 10 points in the period. The Panthers capitalized on defensive stops, jumping out to an early 7-2 lead and finishing the quarter up by five points. 

Lake Erie fought back in the second quarter, making it a tightly contested stretch. The Storm's defense stiffened, holding ODU to a 31.6% field-goal percentage. However, the Panthers continued to find success at the free-throw line and used their size advantage in the paint to score 13 points compared to Lake Erie's 12. Heading into halftime, Ohio Dominican held a slim six-point lead, 28-22.

Second Half Notes
The game's pace picked up significantly in the third quarter, with both teams finding their rhythm offensively. Ohio Dominican came out of the locker room firing, connecting on an impressive 12-of-16 shots from the field (75%). Lake Erie also responded well, shooting 7-of-14, but the Panthers' ability to consistently execute on both ends of the court proved the difference. Behind strong defensive pressure and transition scoring opportunities, ODU exploded for 30 points in the quarter while limiting Lake Erie to 21. By the end of the period, the Panthers had stretched their lead to double digits.

Ohio Dominican showed no signs of letting up in the final quarter. Their efficient shooting continued, as the Panthers hit 50% of their field goals and went 6-of-7 (85.7%) from the free-throw line. Despite Lake Erie's late surge, scoring 19 points in the quarter, it wasn't enough to overcome ODU's relentless attack. The Panthers closed the game on a high note, sealing the 80-62 victory, marking their seventh of the season.

The Storm put up a strong fight but struggled to match ODU's depth and efficiency. They managed just 18 points in the paint and converted ODU's turnovers into eight points. The bench contributed 16 points, and they added nine second-chance points, but it wasn't enough to keep pace with the Panthers.

Up Next
With this win, Ohio Dominican improves to 7-11 on the season and builds momentum as they prepare for another road matchup. Next up, the Panthers will travel to Cedarville to face the 8-9 Yellow Jackets on Thursday, January 23, at 5:30 PM in the Callon Athletic Center.