Box Score

WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The Otterbein women's basketball team emerged with its biggest win of the season Wednesday night in the Rike Center, outlasting and upsetting No. 19-ranked Marietta by a score of 69-68 in an exciting Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) overtime matchup.

The Cardinals, improving to 10-8 overall and 6-5 within the league, got an old-fashioned three-point play from junior Jacy Jones in the closing seconds to notch a third-straight victory.

Otterbein trailed 68-66 with 22 seconds remaining, leading to a three-pointer from Dani Kissel out of a timeout. Jones was there to corral a backside rebound and get fouled while making a layup.

"We knew Dani would get the shot out of our timeout, and I just focused on performing my role of rebounding," Jones said. "We struggled all game on the glass but I was able to find the ball and somehow score."

Jones then went to the free-throw line and promptly buried her go-ahead attempt, giving Otterbein the lead for good.

"When I'm on the foul line, I always take a quick moment by myself to ask my dad to watch over me," said Jones, whose father suddenly passed away as she was entering high school. "He was helping tonight and the ball went in."

The Otterbein defense came up with a final defensive stand, forcing the Pioneers into a running, off-balanced jumper on a broken possession as the seconds ticked away.

"This is a great win," Jones added. "We have been working to find ourselves since the beginning of the year and continue meshing. It's all a team effort and we are ready to make a run down the stretch. Hopefully more good things lie ahead."

Marietta (16-2, 9-2 OAC) held a 28-25 lead at halftime, but the Cardinals clawed back to take a 45-39 lead into the fourth quarter following a trifecta from guard Ali Cartnal and a buzzer-beating layup from running mate Abby Miduri.

Otterbein led by seven points with 5:11 remaining, but the pesky Pioneers battled back to take the lead with a 13-2 spurt. The contest eventually found itself locked at 59-59 before Cardinal sophomore Delaney Cutteridge buried a go-ahead jumper from the baseline with 27 seconds to go.

Marietta forced the extra session with two late free throws, but the Cardinals ultimately had the last laugh thanks to the put-back from Jones, who averages just 4.5 points per game but managed to play the role of hero.

Kissel led all scorers with 17 points, Cartnal added 16 and forward Abbie Scholtz delivered her third-straight double-double with 12 points and 10 caroms. Otterbein shot 40 percent as a team, finding ways to overcome a 3 of 16 output from behind the arc, 22 turnovers and Marietta hoisting 31 free throws.

The Pioneers received 13 points and a game-best 15 rebounds from Corrie Burkhardt, while also registering eight points and 11 boards through Marlo Taylor. Marietta was 32 percent from the field, connecting on just 4 of 17 three-pointers and making 18 of 31 at the line. They held 25-11 advantages in points off turnovers and second-chance scoring.

Otterbein will look to finish out the week strong come Saturday afternoon, traveling to Heidelberg for a 3 p.m. start time. The Cards won the initial matchup this season by a score of 95-85.