COLUMBUS, Ohio - The West Liberty University women's basketball team dropped a midweek non-conference battle at Ohio Dominican tonight by a score of 79-68.

A game that saw 12 lead changes and eight ties went to the fourth quarter with just one point seperating the two sides, but the turnover bug bit the Hilltoppers, committing 10 in the final nine minutes to ultimately come up short to the Panthers.

Karly McCutcheon made a driving layup for her eighth point of the game to cap off a back-and-forth first quarter and tie things at 23.

Arriana Manzay secured an offensive board and battled through contact for an old fashioned three-point play early in the second to kickstart an 11-0 run for the Hilltoppers. Bailey Beckstedt capped off the run with a triple to make it a 12-point 'Topper lead at the 6:40 mark in the second. Ohio Dominican answered with a 13-2 spurt to tie it back up at 40 before a pair of Gracie Lyon free throws sent the game to the half with West Liberty ahead by two.

After Manzay's opening layup of the third quarter, no team led by more than three points and Ohio Dominican took a one-point edge (56-55) into the final 10 minutes. 

The Hilltoppers tied it up twice early in the fourth, but 10 turnovers proved to be too costly to overcome in the final frame. The Panthers drained the clock and extended their lead to double-digits with a minute to play to seal the deal.

McCutcheon ended the night with 18 points and Manzay added 10 for the Hilltoppers. Gabby Stare, of ODU, led all scorers with 31 points, 13 of which coming at the free throw line.

The 'Topper defense held Ohio Dominican to just 1-of-6 shooting beyond the arc, but the Panthers were able to offset that with a 52-26 advantage in the paint. WLU coughed up 26 turnovers in total leading to 30 Panther points.

After netting eight triples in the first 20 minutes, the Black and Gold were held to just one in the final 20.

West Liberty heads to Alderson Broaddus for its conference opener on Saturday. Tip off is scheduled for 2 pm.

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