Findlay, Ohio – The University of Findlay women's basketball team returned to the floor after a 12-day layoff on Thursday, Jan. 2 for the team's first contest of the 2025 calendar year. The Oilers took down their Northwest Ohio rival, Tiffin University, by a score of 82-65, UF's sixth-straight win. It's the first time Findlay has won six straight since the 2019-20 season.

With the win, the Oilers are now 11-3 on the year with a 4-1 mark in Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) play while Tiffin falls to 6-6 overall with a 1-3 record in league play.

Tiffin got off to a fast start, opening up a 13-point lead through eight minutes of play. That 20-7 advantage came as a result of hot shooting and stout defense as the Dragons made eight of its' first 12 shots, including three triples, and forced the Oilers into three turnovers in that opening eight-minute stretch.

Findlay closed the first quarter on a 9-2 run and, in the second quarter, forced the Dragons into 11 turnovers, leading to a lopsided 22-9 frame that saw the home team enter the half with a 38-31 lead.

The domination continued into the second half where Findlay started with an 11-0 run, catapulting the Orange and Black to a 66-48 lead through three frames.

The Oilers would cruise to the finish line, earning the victory in the debut game of the new year.

Rebounding played a big part in Thursday's win as the Oilers held a 46-31 advantage on the glass including 18 offensive boards that turned into 21 second chance points. Findlay also made 12-of-25 (48%) from three-point range to help propel them to the win.

Senior Kate Ellis led all scorers with 17 points while senior Chloe Callahan scored 13 points. Both had four rebounds. Fellow senior Mckenna Stephens scored ten points, all of which came in the first half of play.

Junior Alyssa Ziehler had eight rebounds and a pair of steals while sophomore Addisyn Freeman and junior Ella Mescher had five rebounds each. Senior Janae Hoying led the way on defense, recording five steals.

Findlay is back in action on Saturday, Jan. 4 at Cedarville to take on the Yellow Jackets. That game will tip off at 1:00 pm.