COLUMBUS, OH - To tip off their week of play, the Ohio Dominican women's basketball team (7-10, 2-7) welcomed the Malone Pioneers (14-4, 7-3), a team currently receiving Top 25 national votes. Despite a dominant first half from the Panthers, the Pioneers surged in the second half to escape Alumni Hall with a 63-52 victory. 

Key Leaders
Jenna Shackleford led the way in the paint for the Black and Gold, netting 16 points to go along with four rebounds, five assists, and a block. Guard Sarah Ochs followed with 10 points and three steals, including a sharp 2-of-3 performance from beyond the arc. Mackenzie Hurd rounded out the top performers, totaling eight points, seven rebounds, and four assists. Off the bench, Jazmyn Wheeler contributed seven points in 18 minutes, shooting a perfect 3-of-3 from the field. 

Game Breakdown
The Panthers opened the game firing on all cylinders, shooting 50% from the field (7-of-14) and going 2-of-2 from deep in the first quarter. In contrast, the Pioneers struggled, shooting just 31.3% from the field and 1-of-3 from the arc. This allowed ODU to build a 17-11 lead, fueled by an impressive 15-0 run during the period. 
ODU maintained their momentum in the second quarter, shooting 46.2% from the floor and 2-of-4 from three-point range. The Panthers again outscored Malone (16-12) as the Pioneers' shooting dipped to 22.7%. Behind this defensive effort, the Panthers headed into halftime with a commanding 10-point lead on their home court. 

At the break, the Panthers had committed only two turnovers while forcing eight from Malone. While both teams were tied with 14 points in the paint, ODU's bench provided a significant spark, contributing 11 first-half points. 

However, the momentum shifted in the third quarter. Malone found their rhythm, shooting a blistering 64.3% from the field and 71.4% (5-of-7) from deep. Ohio Dominican was held to just seven points in the frame, allowing Malone to go on a decisive 18-4 run over the final seven minutes of the quarter. The Pioneers entered the final frame leading 47-40. 

In the fourth quarter, Ohio Dominican found their stroke again, shooting 50% for 12 points. It wasn't enough to overcome the deficit, as Malone added 16 points in the final frame to secure their seventh G-MAC win of the season. 

Coming Up
The Panthers will look to regain momentum with a quick turnaround this weekend. They remain in Columbus to host the Northwood Timberwolves (14-5) on Saturday, with tipoff scheduled for 1:00 PM.