WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. - The West Liberty University women's basketball team will travel to the capital of the Buckeye State this evening to take on Ohio Dominican in a non-conference game. Just three games into the season, this will be the final tune up for the Hilltopers before heading into conference play this weekend.

THE BASICS
5:30 pm | Alumni Hall (Columbus, Ohio)
West Liberty (1-1) at Ohio Dominican (0-1)
Live stats and video links can be viewed here.

THE HILLTOPPERS
A thrilling opening weekend ended with the Hilltoppers going 1-1 at the MEC/PSAC Challenge in Charleston, W.Va. West Liberty went to overtime in the opener against Cal (Pa.) and came up just short 70-67, then got a free throw from Karly McCutcheon with 0.4 on the clock in double overtime to take down Mercyhurst 108-107 on Saturday.

Arriana Manzay and McCutcheon led the offensive attack, as they became just the second duo in program history to score 30+ points in the same game after Manzay netted 38 and McCutcheon 30 against Mercyhurst. Both were highly efficient from the floor all weekend. Manzay went 18-for-23 (.783) and McCutcheon 15-for-19 (.789) including a 7-of-8 mark from deep.

West Liberty shot the ball at a 51.3% clip last weekend and made 16 triples for a 37.2% beyond the arc. The Black and Gold hauled in double-digit offensive rebounds in both games, led by Manzay averaging 8.5 total boards per game. Assists were made on just under 63% of the Hilltoppers buckets on opening weekend, while one of the few kryptonites was turnovers, suffering 32 and 28 in the two games.

THE PANTHERS
Ohio Dominican dropped a 75-69 season opener on Friday in its home gymnasium to Ferris State. A trio of freshman notched double-digits with Macy Chapman pouring in a team-high 16 on 6-of-8 shooting, Madelyn Fearon posted 12 points, and Trinity Ramos scored 11 off a perfect 5-for-5 shooting night featuring one triple. 

As a team, ODU shot 56.6% from the field and 33.3% from deep in the season opener. They dished out 15 assists, but also committed 20 turnovers and pulled down 25 rebounds, with six being offensive, for a -3 margin against Ferris State.

The Panthers are coming off a 5-23 season a year ago and have lost their last eight games dating back to February 5.

THE SERIES
Ohio Dominican holds a 2-1 advantage all-time. The last meeting was inside the ASRC on December 14, 2021, when the Hilltoppers won 78-67. In the lone trip to Columbus, the Panthers defended their home court with a 73-69 win on November 17, 2015.

NEXT UP
West Liberty is on the road yet again for its MEC opener at Alderson Broaddus. Tip off from Philippi is scheduled for 2 pm.

Follow Hilltopper basketball all season online at HilltopperSports.com and on Twitter (@WLU_Hoops | @WLathletics), Instagram (@wlu_wbb | @wlu_athletics), and Facebook.