Box Score
Lourdes cut a 13-point second half deficit to one midway through the second half, but could not tie the contest or take the lead on Wednesday evening as the Gray Wolves fell 57-47 to Northwestern Ohio at Tam-o-Shanter.
 
Trailing 23-15 at halftime, the Racers scored seven of the first nine points out of the locker room to build a 30-17 lead with 16:52 to play in the game.  Lourdes responded with an 8-0 run to close within five less than three minutes later only to see UNOH rebuild a 10-point advantage.
 
Lourdes again battled back with an 8-0 run keyed by a triple from Courtney Slepko (Cleveland, Ohio/Normandy H.S.), the only one of the game in 17 tries for the Gray Wolves, and a lay-up by Emily Orsini (Akron, Ohio/Archbishop Hoban H.S.) to pull within one, 36-35.
 
Back-to-back-triples on consecutive possessions by Saige Meyer and Shaye Warman pushed the lead back to seven for UNOH and Lourdes could not recover.  The Gray Wolves did cut the deficit back to three, 45-42, with just under four minutes to play, but that would be as close as they would get the rest of the way.
 
“We got back to within one and they came down and hit back-to-back threes,” head coach Zareth Gray stated.  “I think that was the turning point in the game.  We got back to within one possession again late but we lost some defensive assignments and made silly fouls down the stretch.  We need to learn how to win games.”
 
The Gray Wolves jumped out to an early 11-6 lead seven minutes into the game but a 10-0 run by Northwestern Ohio over six minutes put the Racers on top for good.  UNOH took a 23-15 lead into the locker room following a half which saw both schools shoot just 18.2% from the floor.
 
“We can't have 14 turnovers in the first half,” Gray added.  “They made a big difference in us falling behind.”
 
Lourdes finished the game shooting 28.8% from the field but just 5.9% from beyond the arc and committed 26 turnovers.  Northwestern Ohio connected at a chilly 25.4% rate.
 
“We need to make free throws as well,” Gray concluded.  “Shooting at a 64% clip just isn't good enough.  The missed shots all add up in close games.”
 
Tarynn Hampton (Saint Louis, Mo./Alton H.S.) led the Gray Wolves with 13 points and nine rebounds while Orsini added nine points.  Tiffani Blackman (Toledo, Ohio/Start H.S.) added eight points and eight boards.
 
Warman led Northwestern Ohio (6-12, 3-7 WHAC) with 12 points and eight boards while Angie Cates contributed 10 points.
 
Lourdes (5-13, 2-8) will take to the road on Saturday afternoon as the Gray Wolves travel to Grand Rapids, Mich. to face Cornerstone.  Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m.