Box Score

MARIETTA, Ohio – The Cardinal women's basketball team came up short in an Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) road game Saturday afternoon, finishing on the low end of a 62-57 decision at Marietta College.

Both sides struggled offensively to open the game, combining to shoot 5 for 31 over the first ten minutes and score just five points each.

Marietta (6-9, 2-6 OAC) found a groove first, embarking on a 22-2 scoring run to open a 27-7 lead with 5:25 to play before the break. Otterbein answered with the next punch, holding the Pioneers scoreless over the remainder of the half to finish the period on a 14-0 run, cutting the deficit to just six at intermission.

The Pioneers got their lead back to double digits early in the second half, and later held an 11-point lead as the game clock moved under 8:00 to play.

Otterbein (5-10, 2-6 OAC) would not go away easily, trimming the lead down to five with 1:14 to play and then getting the ball back with a chance to claw within a possession. However, a near miss on a three-pointer from freshman Abby Miduri and a turnover on an ensuing inbounds pass would give control back to Marietta.

A three-pointer from Cardinal senior Mary Corbett made it a four-point game with 23 seconds remaining, but Otterbein would get no closer as the Pioneers preserved victory.

Junior forward Amariah Huck was perhaps the best player on the floor throughout, finishing with game-highs of 23 points and seven rebounds despite the loss. Miduri posted 10 points off the bench while Madi Miller, Chelsea Reed and Cheyenne Hartley-Carr all matched Huck with seven caroms.

Jessica Brogan and Brooke Borich totaled 13 and 10 points, respectively, to lead Marietta.

Both teams shot 35 percent for the game and went a combined 11 of 40 from behind the arc. The Pioneers finished with a 21-4 edge in points off turnovers.

Otterbein will be on the road to begin next week's action, traveling to Wilmington College for a 7:30 p.m. tip come Wednesday night.