COLUMBUS , Ohio – Amanda Ritzler, an Ohio Dominican University sport management major, has been named ODU Scholar-Athlete for the winter season.   Ritzler is the only student-athlete to be named for the 2007-2008 basketball season.

Ritzler, a junior guard from Tiffin , Ohio , was one of six players on the ODU women's basketball team to play in all 31 games this season.   A two sport athlete at ODU, Ritzler, is a starter on the basketball team and softball team while maintaining the minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale required to become a scholar athlete.  more

"Amanda is a very dedicated student and player in this department," says athletic director Bill Blazer.   "To be able to juggle basketball, softball and a full school load and continue to achieve at such a high level in all three categories is a tribute to her work ethic and dedication," adds head women's basketball coach Nathan Bellman.

Ritzler helped lead the women's basketball team to their second conference tournament title in school history and will now set her sites on a third conference title in softball as she takes to the diamond this spring.

SIOUX CITY , Iowa - The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has announced the 2008 Division II Women's Basketball All-America teams. Players are selected by the All-America committee.

Ohio Dominican senior Krissy Haines ( St. Marys , Ohio ) was named to the Second Team.   Haines, a 5-foot-9 senior forward, earned her second straight second team nomination.   Haines led the Panthers back to the NAIA National Tournament for the first time in four years after averaging 15.4 points per game and 6.7 rebounds.   She led the team for the second straight year with 407 points and is currently 2^nd all-time in scoring and 3^rd in rebounding at ODU.   Haines also set a new school record for free throws made in a career with 496.  more

The Panthers finished their season 22-10 overall and won their second conference tournament in school history after knocking off Notre Dame, 81-73 in the AMC Tournament Finals on March 4^th.  

SIOUX CITY , Iowa – No. 4 seed Dakota State University picked up first round victory over fifth seeded Ohio Dominican University, 76-73, in the first game of day two of the17^th annual NAIA Division II Women's Basketball National Championship at the Tyson Events Center/Gateway Arena in Sioux City , Iowa .

Ohio Dominican (22-10) looked to be cruising, jumping out to a 44-32 halftime advantage, powered by 11 points by Amanda Ritzler ( Tiffin , OH ). The Panthers lead swelled to as much as 19 before Dakota State began to chip away. Over the next six minutes the Lady T's of Dakota State went on an 18-5 run to tie the game at 63-63 with 5:48 remaining.  more

The two teams traded baskets and the lead until Dakota State (21-10) was able to take the lead for good when Laura Tewes drove the lane and made a difficult lay-up while being fouled. Tewes would convert on the three point play to give Dakota State the final lead at 74-73. The Lady T's would add a late bucket in transition to distance themselves from Ohio Dominican, while stifling defense was able to hold the Panthers scoreless in the last 2:28 to hold on for the victory.

Tewes led all scorers with 22 points on 8-for-11 shooting from the field along with pulling down nine rebounds for Dakota State . Jessica VanLoy added 13 point and 10 rebounds for the Lady T's.
Krissy Haines (St. Mary's, OH) led the Panthers offensively with 21 points, while Katalin Beck ( Granville , OH ) added 12 points. Ritzler was held scoreless in the second half and finished as the third leading scorer for Ohio Dominican with 11 points. Cheslea Rogers ( Botkins , OH ) chipped in with six points and 12 rebounds.

Dakota State advances to the second-round game at 10:15 a.m. , Friday and will face the winner of the Bethel ( Ind. ) and Northwood ( Fla. ) first round game.

COLUMBUS , Ohio - The Ohio Dominican athletic department announced today that RadiODU will carry all of the women's basketball games at the 17^th Annual Division II NAIA Tournament via the internet.   Listeners can log on to http://panthers.ohiodominican.edu/public/network.aspx and follow the teams as they make a post season run at the national title.

Ohio Dominican received an automatic bid after defeating Notre Dame College, 81-73, in the finals of the AMC Women's Basketball Tournament last Tuesday evening.   The Panthers will be making their fifth appearance in the national tournament.  more

The Panthers will open tournament play on Thursday, March 13^th as they face No. 4 seeded Dakota State University (S.D.) at 8:30 a.m. (CST) at the Tyson Event Center/Gateway Arena in Sioux City, Iowa.