COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Davenport women's basketball squad wrapped up its weekend road trip with a 68–49 loss to Ohio Dominican on Saturday at Alumni Hall in their second non-conference matchup. The Panthers matched ODU with 40 points in the paint and forced 13 turnovers, but an early deficit and ODU's efficiency at the free-throw line kept DU from closing the gap despite a strong third-quarter push.
DU's defense was active from the start — with blocks from Maddie Geers and Taaria Pehi-Kupa — but the Panthers struggled to convert offensively, shooting 6-for-19 in the frame. Ohio Dominican capitalized on late possessions, using a final-minute layup to take a bigger lead 17–12 after the first quarter.
Davenport attempted to regain momentum in the second, briefly cutting the deficit to three on a Geers layup at 9:33. A 3-pointer from Anna Axtell at the 2:34 mark brought DU within striking distance again, but ODU consistently answered. The hosts generated nine points off turnovers in the period and limited DU to 4-of-19 shooting, extending the lead to 32–23 at halftime.
The Panthers responded with its best stretch of the game in the third quarter, outscoring Ohio Dominican 17–16 while shooting 50% from the floor. Geers continued to score around the rim, and Kayla Covington added a series of strong finishes in the paint. Despite DU's improved efficiency and defensive energy — including a late stop that led to a transition chance — ODU maintained its advantage with balanced scoring and timely free throws, taking a 52–40 lead into the fourth.
DU continued to battle inside in the final quarter, with early layups from Tangee Gagau and Covington trimming the margin. Defensively, the Panthers generated key moments, including a steal by Maya Mitchell and a block from the true freshman, Amaya Henderson. Toney added a jumper and a late tip-in to keep DU within reach, but Ohio Dominican sealed the game at the line, converting 12 of 15 free-throw attempts overall to secure the 68–49 result.
Davenport Top Performers
Maddie Geers — 14 points, 6 field goals, 1 block
Ellie Toney — 8 points, 3 rebounds
Reese Polega — 3 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals
Kayla Covington — 8 points, 4 rebounds
Ohio Dominican Top Performers
Jenna Shackleford — 19 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists (8–9 FT)
Macy Chapman — 14 points, 3 steals, 1 block
Jazmyn Wheeler — 9 points on 3–4 FG
Davenport continues non-conference play on Thursday, Nov. 20, traveling to Lewis for a 6:30 p.m. tipoff in Romeoville, Illinois, before returning home for their first non-conference home opener on Saturday, Nov. 22, at 1 p.m.
