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WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The Otterbein University women's basketball team suffered a 70-61 loss to cross-town rival Capital on Saturday inside the Rike Center.
 
Otterbein (5-5 overall, 1-4 OAC) is now set to host the Smokey Ballenger Classic on Dec. 28-29, as Denison, North Central and St. Mary's (Ind.) visit the Rike Center. The Cardinals are scheduled to play St. Mary's on day one at 7:30 p.m. before taking on Denison on day two at 5 p.m.
 
Capital jumped out to an 11-6 lead through the first seven minutes of action, taking as many as a six-point lead over Otterbein before capturing the first period at 17-13. The Cardinals' scoring effort was well-balanced throughout the initial quarter, as six different players scored.
 
A fast-break layup by senior forward Amariah Huck two minutes into the second quarter tied the game at 17 points apiece, before sophomore guard Abby Miduri connected on her first three-pointer to give the Cards their first lead, at 20-19, since the 9:15 mark of the first period.
 
Neither team managed to take more than a one-possession lead for the remainder of the half, as the Crusaders held a slim 29-28 lead over the Cardinals at the break. Both teams struggled from the field in the opening period, with Otterbein totaling a 30.6 percent shooting mark to Capital's 29.0 percent.
 
The Crusaders opened the second period with a 10-2 scoring run to boost their lead to 39-30 over the Cardinals, while consecutive scores by freshman guard Ali Cartnal and junior forward Taylor Pifher cut the team's deficit to a two possession game.
 
Capital regained its nine-point lead at 49-40 with less than a minute remaining in the third period, before Otterbein closed out the quarter on a 5-0 scoring run to pull to within four points at 49-45. The Crusaders regained their momentum at the beginning of the fourth quarter, manufacturing a 9-1 scoring run to inflate their lead to 58-46.
 
A three-pointer by Miduri with 1:41 left to play cut the Cardinal deficit to a one-possession game at 62-59, before the Crusaders ended the contest on an 8-2 scoring run to improve to 2-2 in conference play.
 
Miduri led all scorers with 20 points on 7-of-18 shooting, posting five rebounds in the process. Freshman guard Dani Kissel followed with 13 points on 5-of-13 shooting, while Cartnal and Huck combined for 15 points. Capital senior forward Kristen Thompson checked in with 14 points and a game-high 19 rebounds to lead the Crusaders. Capital outshot Otterbein 37.7 percent to 35.4 percent for the game, while also owning the rebound margin 49-40.