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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Otterbein University women's basketball team tallied a pair of victories over the holiday weekend, defeating both Catholic University (D.C.) and host Colorado College at its Thanksgiving Classic.
The Cardinals, now 3-2 on the season, will return to action Wednesday evening with a 7:30 p.m. road game at Marietta College. It will be the Ohio Athletic Conference opener for both teams.
Both Otterbein and Catholic (3-3) traded baskets throughout a close first half on Friday, with the scoreboard showing a 26-26 tie and 2:42 remaining in the first half.
Otterbein closed the opening frame on a 7-1 run for a 33-27 halftime advantage, and eventually bumped the margin to double digits after a layup from sophomore Amariah Huck with 13:29 to go in regulation.
Otterbein stayed on the gas pedal, extending the advantage to 16, at 54-38, on a pair of Madi Miller free throws as the game clocked moved under 10:00.
Catholic responded with one final push, embarking on a 13-2 run spanning the next four minutes to draw within 56-51.
Otterbein's defense ultimately stood the test, finding a few stops before the team went an impressive 15 of 16 from the free-throw line down the stretch to secure the 71-59 win.
Otterbein nailed 25 of 31 from the charity stripe as a team and also held a 36-23 edge on the glass. The Tan and Cardinal defense forced Catholic into shooting .239 (16 of 67) from the field to help off-set eight more turnovers than the opposition.
Huck led all players in scoring with a career-high 18 points, shooting 6 of 12 from the floor in addition to making all six of her free throws. She also tied for a game-best 12 rebounds, also marking a new career-high.
Junior Tabatha Piper notched her second double-double in as many games, posting 14 points and 10 rebounds on a 6-of-9 effort from the field. Mary Corbett and Taylor Pifher combined for 21 points while point guard Chelsea Reed contributed nine points, five assists and four rebounds.
Colorado College (0-6) held a slim 24-23 lead midway through the first half on Saturday, but Otterbein found a groove and went on a 21-10 run over the next eight minutes of action.
The Cardinals eventually took a 48-40 advantage into halftime, only to see the host Tigers open the second period on an 11-2 run and seize a 51-50 lead.
The contest remained close throughout the following ten minutes, with a layup from Piper giving Otterbein a 71-66 edge as 7:49 remained on the game clock.
Otterbein widened the lead from there, opening a 79-70 lead moments later before hanging on down the stretch for an 88-80 victory.
Huck was impressive again, topping her career-high from the day before by dropping 22 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the field. She made all but one of her nine free throws and grabbed a game-high nine rebounds.
Piper turned in another solid line of 19 points and eight rebounds while Mary Corbett (15), Chelsea Reed (13) and Madi Miller (11) also scored in double digits.
Courtney Tyus led the Colorado College attack with 21 points on a 6 of 13 effort from the floor.
