ANGOLA, Ind. – The Otterbein women's basketball team opened up the 2018-19 campaign falling in a pair of games against nationally-ranked opponents in Trine and DePauw. 

TRINE – 71, OTTERBEIN – 63

The Cardinals began the weekend facing off against the No. 9 ranked Thunder and were paced by Dani Kissel who tallied 21 points in the game.

Trine started the game on a 7-0 run,  as senior Jacy Jones connected on a three-pointer ending the hot start. The host would end the first quarter leading by a score of 25-12.

Otterbein would battle back in the second quarter outscoring the Thunder by seven, as Trine led 39-33 at the break. The Cardinals made five three-pointers in the first 20 minutes of action, while the Thunder shot 54 percent from the floor.

Trine came out of the locker room aggressive on defense by holding the Cardinals to eight points in the third period, while forcing eight turnovers.

The Cardinals put up one final fight in the fourth quarter, as Otterbein opened up the stanza on a 7-1 run. The Cards cut the deficit to five with 2:37 remaining in the game, but the Thunder would hold on.

Ali Cartnal added 16 points and five assists, while Abbie Scholz nearly recorded a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds. Brandi Dawson of Trine led all scorers with 27 points and totaled 10 rebounds.
 
DEPAUW – 59, OTTERBEIN – 47

On day two of the Trine University Tournament the Cardinals faced off against the No. 13 ranked Tigers and lost 59-47 in a battle

The Cardinals trailed by eight points midway through the first quarter, but ended the period on a 9-2 run and trailed 16-15.

Otterbein and DePauw traded baskets the entire second period, as the lead was never greater than four for the Tigers. The Cardinals trailed 28-25 heading into the locker room, as Otterbein played aggressive on defense by holding the opposition to 32 percent from the field.

Cartnal connected on a three-pointer on the first Otterbein possession to tie the game at 28. The Tigers would score seven unanswered points over the course of four minutes. Otterbein trailed 46-35 heading into the final period, as DePauw outscored the Cardinals by eight points in the third quarter.

DePauw owned its largest lead of the game of 15 points at the 3:30 mark in the final quarter, as Mya Shannon made a shot in the paint. The senior duo of Cartnal and Kissel combined for 28 points. 

The Cardinal defense played tough by forcing 19 turnovers, which resulted in 18 points senior guard Jones chipped in 10 points on eight shot attempts. 

Otterbein will be back in action next Saturday traveling to Lousivlle, Kentucky for a contest against Spalding at 1 p.m.