Oilers get big stop, hold off Panthers

UF WOMEN NOTCH TOUGH WIN VS. ODUOILERS DON'T LEAD UNTIL 4TH QUARTER IN G-MAC WINBY RILEY DICKINSON– In contrast to Thursday's home game, the University of Findlay saved its best play for the end of the game, coming back to narrowly defeat Ohio Dominican 64-63 at home.The Panthers made a 3-pointer to open the game, and started on an 8-2 run. Both teams traded 5-0 runs before ODU went up 24-15 after the opening quarter.Findlay shrank the Panthers' lead from nine points to five as the halftime buzzer sounded, thanks to seven points from MacKenzie Schulz. Findlay came within one point with four minutes to go in the third, as a converted and-one from graduate senior Ariyah Douglas made the score 49-48 Panthers. The margin stayed at one point headed into the final period, with ODU ahead just 53-52. The Oilers' first lead of the contest came just three minutes into the fourth, as Douglas converted three straight looks inside to put the Oilers up by three points. "Ariyah Douglas tonight was just outstanding," Oilers coach Michele Durand said. "She was the one that fueled that run that got us the lead, finally. They led most of the game, until she went in there. Really great job by our subs, and by all of our players."The celebration was short-lived, however, as Ohio Dominican nailed a long-range jumper to tie things up at 58. Things were still knotted up at 60 before Schulz made a go-ahead 3-pointer with just two minutes to play. A free throw from Douglas made it 64-60 UF with a minute and a half, before an ODU putback inside made it a two-point game with one minute remaining.Findlay had the chance to go up by two scores but was forced into a shot-clock violation by the Panthers with 12 seconds to go. Ohio Dominican's Mackenzie Hurd drew a foul with 5.1 remaining, but was only able to convert one of her free throws. As she missed the second, ODU secured the offensive rebound with a chance to win the game in five seconds. Guard Sarah Ochs grabbed the board for the Panthers, but was walled up by some staunch defense from Findlay senior Alyssa Ziehler, as the Oilers recorded a much-needed conference victory. "We had to get stops," Durand said. "We gave up 41 in the first half, which is a lot of points to give up, so we had to get stops.""Playing with four fouls, it's never fun, Ziehler said. "I never really asked for that. I just really tried to stay straight up. We're super glad she didn't kick it out, that girl was pretty open in the corner. That last possession, and those last few minutes of the game, we stuck together, and we trusted each other on defense. We've just gotta remind ourselves to trust our feet.""We could've hung our heads after the first half," Durand added. "Just that we stepped it up, everybody took it to heart. Everybody stepped up their defensive game. We got rebounds, and that really helps us."Ziehler paced the Oilers with 17 points, eight rebounds, and two steals. Findlay's offense primarily revolves around Ziehler, both as a scorer and a hub, working out of the post to generate open looks for herself and the rest of the team."If you look at the scoreboard, you can see all those players with the numbers they put up, we were unstoppable," Ziehler said. We were so good (today), we have so much talent. I know when that double's coming. I always tell the girls, as soon as you pass it in, you've gotta move so I can locate you. They hit their numbers tonight, and that really helped us win."Schulz netted three of her six triples, finishing with 13 points and four boards. Guard Allie Stockton notched 12 points, along with team highs of 10 rebounds, three assists, and three steals. Douglas scored 12 points to go with five rebounds. Ochs led the Panthers with 14 points, five rebounds, and two steals. Hurd recorded a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds, along with three assists. Jazmyn Wheeler tacked on 11 points and eight rebounds, protecting the rim at a high rate with five rejections. Findlay outscored the Panthers 28-22 in the second half, continuing its uptick in play since the new year. The Oilers are 3-2 since the ball dropped, and have lost by single-digits to the 2023 Div. II national champion, conference powerhouse Ashland, and nationally-ranked Malone. "We came back after break, and we really stressed consistency," Ziehler said. "We kind of hit the reset button and went back to the basics. We've been really trying to figure out both our offense and our defense. We're really trusting each other on defense now, and I think that was highlighted today out on the court."Findlay, now 8-8 overall and 4-5 in the G-MAC, hosts Hillsdale on Thursday at 5:30. ODUOchs 6-0–14, Hurd 2-7–11, Wheeler 4-2–11, Cosgrove 3-0–9, Shacleford 4-0–8, Schwemley 2-2–6, Fearon 1-0–2, Chapman 0-2–2. TOTALS: 22-13–63.FINDLAYZiehler 7-3–17, Schulz 5-0–13, Stockton 3-4–12, Douglas 5-2–12, Mescher 2-2–7, French 1-0–3. TOTALS: 23-11–64.ODU 24 17 12 10–63FINDLAY 15 21 16 12–64THREE-POINT FIELD GOALS: ODU 6-18 (Cosgrove 3); Findlay 7-22 (Schulz 3).REBOUNDS: ODU 41 (Hurd 10); Findlay 39 (Stockton 10).TURNOVERS: ODU 12, Findlay 9.