CHANUTE, Kan. – Three different Panthers scored in double figures as Neosho (1-0, 0-0) began  the 2014-15 campaign with a comfortable 71-49 win over Ottawa University (0-1, 0-0) on opening night.
 
It was an aggressive full court press and relentless rebounding on both ends of the floor that helped the Panthers start the season with the lopsided win. It took nearly nine minutes for the Braves to get their first basket of the night as Neosho opened the game on a 16-0 run.
 
The pressure led to easy first half baskets and the Panthers took a 40-14 lead into the locker room at half time. Neosho held Ottawa to just five made field goals in the first half and the Braves were just 1-14 from behind the three point line.
 
The Panthers would open extend the lead to 62-27 with under 8 minutes to play before a late run by the Braves made the final score look closer than the game really way.
 
Neosho was dominant on the glass, out rebounding Ottawa 53-31 while also forcing the Braves into 19 turnovers.
 
Olivia Uhrich led the Panthers with 16 points off the bench including 4-8 from behind the three point line. Micheala Hinton added 12 off the bench, and Fort Scott Community College transfer finished with 10 points.  Hailey Mayfield just missed a double-double in her Neosho debut as she finished with eight points and a game high 11 rebounds.
 
The Panthers will take to the road for their next six games which starts with the Brown Mackie Classic November 7-8. They will return home November 17 when they host the University of Saint Mary. During every home game in the month of November, Neosho athletics will be collecting non-perishable food items to donate to local food banks.