Lourdes took to the hardwood for the first time since the calendar flipped to 2019 on Wednesday evening, dropping a 92-70 contest to the University of Northwestern Ohio inside of Racer Gymnasium in Lima, Ohio.
 
The Gray Wolves struggled offensively, shooting just 37.9% from the floor, including a 4-of-18 (22.2%) clip from three-point range.  Lourdes also committed 23 turnovers which led to 28 Northwestern Ohio points.
 
The Racers jumped out to an early lead, limiting the Gray Wolves to just two points in nearly eight minutes to start the contest, while building a 14-2 advantage.  Northwestern Ohio lead 17-6 after the opening period, and used an 11-0 run in the second to push the lead to 49-24 at halftime.
 
Trailing by as many as 31 in the third, Lourdes closed the quarter on an 8-0 spurt to pull within 74-51 heading into the final 10 minutes.  Seven straight points in the fourth quarter allowed the Gray Wolves to pull within 19, 82-63, but Lourdes was unable to get any closer the rest of the way.
 
Daija Stafford (Louisville, Ky./Moore H.S.) and Sydney Miller (Huntsville, Ohio/Indian Lake H.S.) led the Gray Wolves with 13 points each while Hunter Kershaw (Columbus, Ohio/Westland H.S.) added 12 more.  Stafford's effort was a season-high while Kershaw matched her career high.  LaTyrah Beasley (Toledo, Ohio/Bowsher H.S.) pulled down a team-high eight rebounds in the loss.
 
Leticia Johnson led all scorers with 19 points for Northwestern Ohio (7-11, 3-5 WHAC) while Jer'Taya Hall and Shatisha Dukes added 12 points each.  The Racers shot nearly 45% from the floor and made 24-of-28 (85.7%) from the free throw line.
 
Lourdes (5-9, 2-6) will look to snap a four-game regular season losing skid on Saturday afternoon, as the Gray Wolves return home to the Russell J. Ebeid Recreation Center to host Lawrence Tech.  Tipoff is set for 1 p.m.