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FRANKLIN, Ind. – The Otterbein University women's basketball team opened its season with a pair of losses at the Franklin College Tip-Off Tournament, falling 80-46 to top-ranked DePauw University on Friday before an 81-59 defeat at the hands of Denison University Saturday afternoon.

The Cardinals will have nine days off before returning to the court, hosting Wittenberg University in the home opener on Monday, Nov. 25 in the Rike Center. Game time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

Otterbein managed just 13 first-half points against No. 1-ranked DePauw, but was able to out-score the Tigers 33-27 in the latter 20 minutes of play.

Sophomore Amariah Huck scored a career-best 13 points in the contest while junior Madi Miller contributed 11 points, two assists, and two steals.

Otterbein held a 31-30 lead over Denison with less than four minutes to play in the first half on Saturday, but the Big Red closed the period on a 12-2 run en route to a 42-33 halftime advantage.

Denison widened its margin to 53-49 less than five minutes into the second stanza, but the Cardinals cut the deficit in half by clawing to within 58-51 by the 10:00 mark.

The Cards would get no closer, however, as the Big Red quickly bumped their cushion back to double digits in playing to the win.

Miller led all scorers with 18 points in earning a spot on the All-Tournament team. Junior Tabatha Piper, who took the court less than 20 hours after finishing volleyball season in Elmhurst, Ill., tallied 13 points and five rebounds in 28 minutes of action.

Candise Love and Gretchen Staubauch both shot 7 of 10 from the floor in combining to score 31 points for the Denison offense.

The Cardinals held a 17-5 edge in second-chance points, but the Denson bench was able to out-score Otterbein's, 29-16. The Big Red finished at .569 from the field as a team compared to .324 output from the Cards.