Box Score
UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio – The Cardinal women’s basketball team picked up its third-straight victory Wednesday evening, winning 59-51 at John Carroll University and ultimately taking sole possession of second-place in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) standings.
Otterbein University (19-5, 13-4 OAC) assumes control of second place as a result of the University of Mount Union’s 89-84 overtime loss at Marietta College. The Cards will now need just a victory over Heidelberg University Saturday to clinch the second position.
The league’s top two regular-season finishers will receive a double-bye into the tournament semifinals, while the third and fourth seeds earn a single bye. Otterbein can finish no lower than third.
John Carroll opened the game strong, taking a 19-11 lead midway through the first half. The Cardinal kicked into gear, holding JCU scoreless over the next six minutes as part of a 15-0 run to take a 26-19 lead.
The Streaks hit a pair of free throws to end their scoring draught before Otterbein took a 29-21 lead into halftime.
JCU trimmed the deficit to 37-34 with 13:08 to play in regulation but Otterbein countered with yet another spurt, this time a 13-1 run capped by a layup from senior Allie Leopard at the 6:49 mark for a 50-35 lead.
The Blue Streaks clawed to within 54-48 as the game clock ticked under 2:00 to play, but never got any closer. JCU shot just 18 of 52 (.350) for the game against the rugged Otterbein defense, including 7 of 18 from behind the arc.
Otterbein shot .420 for the contest, getting 11 points from Leopard to spearhead a balanced scoring attack. Hannah Day and Chelsea Cannon each finished with nine points while Chelsea Reed controlled the game with 10 points, eight assists, and three steals.
The Cardinals held a 44-31 advantage on the glass, with 16 coming on the offensive end.
Otterbein will host Heidelberg in the Rike Center Saturday afternoon, with starting time set for 3 p.m. Day, Leopard, Cannon, and fellow seniors Rachel Snedegar, Bourke Kelley, Laura Gilmore, and Alayna Barnes will be recognized prior to tip-off as part of Senior Day.
