After reaching the conference tournament a season ago for the first time since 2012, Tiffin women's basketball looks to continue their climb up the GMAC ranks as they open the 2020-21 season on Saturday by hosting Ohio Dominican.

Game Information:

Tiffin Dragons (0-0, 0-0 GMAC) vs
Ohio Dominican Panthers (1-0, 1-0 GMAC)
Saturday, Dec. 5 | 1:00 p.m.
Tiffin, Ohio | Gillmor Center
Video | Live Stats | Gameday Program

Series History:

Since Tiffin joined Division II prior to the 2008-09 season, the Dragons and Panthers have met 18 times, with Ohio Dominican holding an 11-6 advantage in the series. Nine of those contests have come in Tiffin, with ODU holding a 5-4 advantage.

The last matchup between the Dragons and Panthers came a season ago on Feb. 1, 2020, as Ohio Dominican came from behind to defeat Tiffin 77-71 in Columbus. TU led by three entering the fourth quarter, but the Panthers outscored the Dragons 22-13 in the final period. Angela Troyer led all scorers with 28 points, while four Dragons were in double figures, led by Aarion Nichols with 15 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists.

Dragon Details:

Similar to their seventh-place finish in the conference standings last year, the Dragons were selected to finish seventh again this season by the coaches in the GMAC Preseason Poll. The Dragons return 89% of the minutes played, 91% of the scoring, and 93% of the rebounding from last years' squad, led by Second Team All-GMAC pick Aarion Nichols (14.6 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 3.2 apg, and 1.6 spg as a sophomore).

Miriam Justinger takes over the head coaching duties after serving as the top assistant for the last two seasons.

Including Nichols, the Dragons return their top seven scorers with Savanah Richards (9.2 ppg as a freshman), Brooke Wesner (8.8 ppg as a junior), Jada Tate (7.8 ppg, 6.2 rpg as a freshman), Jasmine Watts (7.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg as a sophomore), Danelle Bradley (5.2 ppg as a junior), and Jensen Hiegel (5.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg, and 2.6 apg as a junior).

In this abbreviated, conference-only season, Tiffin will face each GMAC program twice. The Dragons are set to play six games this month before the holiday break, with four coming at home against ODU, Ohio Valley, Ursuline, and Malone, and two road contests at Findlay and Walsh.

Scouting the Panthers:

Ohio Dominican enters the 2020-21 season picked sixth in the conference poll, just one spot ahead of Tiffin. The Panthers return nine players to the roster in 2020-21, including four of the team's top scorers from a season ago. 

Angela Troyer figures to lead ODU in her senior season after finishing last year second on the team with 14.8 ppg, a mark that was also 10th in the conference. She also led all GMAC guards with a field goal percentage of .476. Kennedy Schlabach (10.1 ppg), Olivia Fox (6.3 ppg, 14 blocks), and Alli Kern (6.1 ppg, 8.7 rpg) all also return and should contribute significantly for the Panthers in 2020-21.

ODU opened their season at home on Thursday with a win over Cedarville, 95-92. Troyer led the Panthers with 30 points and 14 rebounds.