WILBERFORCE , Ohio – The Ohio Dominican men's basketball team won another non-conference game in dramatic fashion on Wednesday evening in Wilberforce , Ohio .  The Panthers, down 88-83 with 41 seconds remaining in overtime, scored three straight buckets that came off three steals to sneak past Central State University, 89-88.

ODU's leading scorer senior Donald Suel (Columbus, OH) who was held in check in the first half, while fellow senior Bryan West (Coshocton, OH; pictured) picked up the scoring to lead the Panthers to a 43-34 half time lead.   West scored 14 of his game high 25 points in the first half.   The 6-foot-6 power forward was 10-for-15 from the field and a perfect 4-of-4 from the free throw line for the game.     more

Suel got his first points early in the second half as he scored on a lay-up to give ODU a nine point lead, but it was the Marauders that came out hot.   Central State went on a 9-2 run and cut the lead to two points with 17:30 remaining.   The Marauders took the lead five minutes later and built an eight point advantage mid-way through the half.   Ohio Dominican chipped away and with 25 second remaining sophomore David Millaud (Fayetteville, GA) hit the front end of a 1-and-1 to tie the game at 77.   Central State played for the last shot that glanced off the iron sending the game into overtime.

The Marauders took the early lead in the overtime period, but a resilient Donald Suel, who was held to five points in regulation, scored six of the Panthers 12 points in the extra period.   It looked as though it would not be enough as the Marauders went up by five with 41 second left.   The Panthers found themselves in a similar situation earlier in the week and came away with the same result, a dramatic come from behind win.  

Suel scored on a jumper in the lane and Adriene Rodriguez (Lorain, OH) forced a steal and scored to bring the Panthers to within one.   Rodriguez got another steal and found West for the game winner with three seconds remaining in the overtime.

West finished the game with his third double-double of the season with 25 points and 10 rebounds.   Rodriguez had another big game with a season high 24 points and four assists.   Suel ended the night with 11 points.   Shawn Steward (Pickerington, OH) also scored in double figures with 10 points.  

Leading the way for Central State was Cole Prophet with 21 points.   Robert Harris came off the bench to score 18 points in the loss.

Ohio Dominican returns to action on Tuesday, November 25^th as they travel back to Wilberforce , Ohio to face Wilberforce University in the conference opener.   Game time is set for 6 p.m.              

URBANA, Ohio – The Ohio Dominican women's basketball team dropped their fourth straight game on Tuesday night as they fell to former AMC foe Urbana University, 71-61, in overtime. The Panthers 52% shooting percentage in the opening half proved insignificant as the host Blue Knights outscored the visitors 16-6 in the overtime period for the non-conference win.

The Panthers made some good offensive runs in the first half but couldn't seem to shake the Blue Knights defense. As neither team could manage more than a few point advantage, Urbana took a slim two point lead to the break.  more

The second half proved much like the first as the game remained close the entire way. As the Panthers struggled to take care of the basketball, the defense kept them within reach of their second win. The hosts had other plans, as they escaped regulation with the game tied, 55-55.

The overtime period saw the Blue Knights shoot 3-of-3 from the floor and 10-of-12 from the free throw line as they sent the visitors home with the loss. The Panthers could only manage 2-of-11 from the field in the extra period.

ODU was led by senior guard Amanda Ritzler ( Tiffin , OH ) who finished with a career high 20 points in 38 minutes of action.   Point guard Melissa Hersey (Cincinnati, OH) finished with four points, five assists and two steals. Freshman Jordan Smithberger (Pickerington, OH) led the Panthers in rebounds with seven.

Urbana was led by Jessica Byrd and Tia Simms who each finished with a 17 points. Haley Ducey added a double-double, with 15 points and 10 rebounds.

Ohio Dominican (1-4), will return to action on Tuesday, November 25^th as they travel to Lima, Ohio to take on the newest member of the American Mideast Conference in an early season non-conference showdown.   Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.   

COLUMBUS , Ohio – The Ohio Dominican men's basketball team earned their first victory of the season in dramatic fashion on Monday night as they upset NAIA DI No. 6 Georgetown College in their home opener.   The victory was the first in school history in five games with the Tigers.

ODU senior Donald Suel (Columbus, OH) and freshman Dominic Russo (Sagamore Hills, OH; pictured) kept the Panthers close for most of the game, but it was junior Adriene Rodriguez (Lorain, OH) that stole the show in the last 27 seconds of the game.   With the Panthers trailing by four Rodriguez took the in-bound pass the length of the floor for an easy bucket with 23 seconds left.   The Panthers were forced to foul and Georgetown 's Demetrius Guions hit 1-of-2 from the line giving ODU a chance.   That is all Rodriguez would need as he went down and nailed a game tying 3-point shot with 14 seconds left.   ODU's press defense went to work as Rodriguez forced a steal, and with three seconds remaining Bryan West (Coshocton, OH) found a streaking Suel for the game winning lay-up.   A desperation shot at the end of the game by Georgetown slammed off the back board and the Panthers student section stormed the floor to celebrate their first win of the season.  more

Georgetown had the definite size advantage over the Panthers as they out rebounding the host 41-27.   The Tigers jumped out early utilizing their size and speed to harass the Panthers into forced shots and turnovers, but ODU wouldn't go away as they headed to the break down three.  

The Tigers tried to pull away late in the second half as they took an eight point lead with 5:47 in regulation, but ODU chipped away and was able to pull out the stunning victory in front of a home crowd of 542 screaming Panther fans.

In just his first start of his career, Russo was brilliant from behind the 3-point arch nailing 5-of-8 attempts for 20 points.   Suel finished the night with a game high 21 points and had clutch free throws down the stretch going 8-for-9.   Rodriguez added 14 points in the victory.

Georgetown was led by Guions with 19 points and 13 rebounds.   Vincent Crutcher added 16 points in the loss.

ODU will return to action this Wednesday, November 19^th as they take on NCAA II Central State in non-conference action.  Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has officially released the 30-team field and bracket for the NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship Opening Round, which will be held Nov. 22 at 15 different sites. There will be 15 Opening Round games all across the country. The winners of those 15 Opening Round games, in addition to host school Embry-Riddle (Fla.), will meet at the final site of the 25^th Annual Women's Soccer National Championship from Dec. 1-6 in Daytona Beach, Fla.

The 21^st ranked Panthers will compete in the NAIA National Championship Tournament for the first time in school history. ODU received the American Mideast Conferences second bid after defeating Roberts Wesleyan College in the final of the AMC Qualifying Tournament on Saturday evening. The Panthers will play the 2^nd ranked Flames of Lee University on Saturday, November 22^nd at 6 p.m. in Cleveland, Tennessee.   more

Defending national champion Martin Methodist (Tenn.) is the No. 6 seed and takes on Indiana Wesleyan in Pulaski, Tenn. Last year, the RedHawks won the 2007 National Championship by a score of 2-1 over Azusa Pacific (Calif.). The last No. 1 seed to win the title was MMC back in 2005.