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WESTERVILLE, Ohio – Otterbein University and Capital University gave fans quite an entertaining game Saturday evening in rivalry action, with the visiting Crusaders escaping with a 74-72 victory on a last-second floater from point guard Simonne Gage.

The Crusaders got off to a quick start, opening the game on a 9-2 run before the Cardinals closed the gap to get back within a point, 13-12.

Both sides settled into a rather fast-paced first half, with Otterbein drawing even at 24-24 after a quick 6-0 spurt, capped when Chelsea Reed found Taylor Pifher for a layup off a steal. Capital's Nina Napolitano stymied the run with a jumper out of a timeout and the Crusaders eventually took a four-point lead into the break.

Capital (14-9, 10-6 OAC) widened its margin to nine early in the second half, but Otterbein stayed close and trailed by just a possession after Madi Miller got a friendly bounce on a three-pointer, cutting the deficit to 47-44 with 13:46 to play.

The Crusaders answered with 10-straight points of their own, looking as if they'd pull away after opening a double-digit advantage midway through the frame. Otterbein threw together a late rally, however, getting back-to-back three-pointers from Abby Miduri and pulling within two points, 64-62, with just over five minutes to go. The Cardinals were 2 of 19 behind the arc as a team prior to that sequence.

Otterbein (5-18, 2-14 OAC) tied the game shortly after a timeout, and took its only lead of the night moments later when Reed buried a trifecta to give her squad a 67-66 advantage. Capital answered with two buckets, but a scrappy Cardinal group tied the game, 72-72, with 14 seconds left when Amariah Huck finished down low.

Capital would ultimately have the last laugh, watching Gage convert the game-winning score in a crowded lane with 3.8 seconds remaining. Otterbein had one last attempt out of a timeout, but a half-court shot from Huck just missed the mark.

Huck was outstanding throughout, finishing with game-highs of 28 points and 11 rebounds on a 12-of-19 effort from the field. Mary Corbett posted 13 points while Miduri and Reed each had eight. Five players made it into double figures for Capital, led by 17 off the bench from Jenna Erwin.

Both teams shot a similar percentage from the field, but the Cardinals got to the free-throw line just 11 times while Capital visited the charity stripe 25 times, making 19 of them. Otterbein went 5 for 19 from long distance throughout.

The Cardinals will remain at home to finish the regular season next week, hosting Marietta College on Wednesday night before a Saturday afternoon tilt with Heidelberg for Senior Day.