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WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The Otterbein women's basketball team lost its home opener, 87-84, to Capital Saturday afternoon inside the Rike Center, despite a record-setting performance from senior
Dani Kissel and the team collectively behind the arc.
Kissel had a career day for the Cardinals, as she set the program record for single points in game by tallying 44. The previous record was held by Terri Hogg back in 1992-93, as she recorded 42 against Ohio Dominican.
The senior also tied the program record for three-pointers made in a single game with eight, as she tied Brianne Grey's record from 2002 versus Ohio Northern.
Kissel had an incredible stat line by shooting 18 of 27 from the floor, 8 of 13 from three-point range and attempting just one free throw. Her 44-point output fell just one shy of tying the Ohio Athletic Conference women's basketball single-game record of 45, held by a trio of past standouts in Lee Jennings (John Carroll, 2010-11), Kortney Kin (Wilmington, 2008-09), and Barbara Herr (Ohio Northern, 1956-57).
As a team Otterbein also confirmed a new program record by connecting on 16 three-pointers, breaking the old record of 15 which was held by the 2003-04 team that set the mark against Baldwin Wallace and Wilmington that year.
The Cardinals used an 8-0 run midway through the first quarter, as Kissel buried two three-pointers to give Otterbein a 15-8 edge. The senior went a perfect 5-5 from the floor and scored 13 of the Cardinals 27 in the first period, as the Cards held a seven-point advantage.
Capital would take its first lead of the game in the second quarter, by using a 7-0 run which lasted over two minutes. With seconds left in the quarter,
Ali Cartnal drove to the hoop and beat the buzzer to give Otterbein a 47-46 lead at the break. Kissel led all scorers with 18 points and Cartnal added 11 of her own.
The two squads traded baskets the entire third quarter, as the largest lead was held by Otterbein at 56-52 with 5:15 left.
Elle Folan of Capital was fouled behind the arc and made all three of her free-throw attempts to give the Crusaders a 67-64 lead heading into the final quarter.
The fourth period quickly turned into the Kissel show, as she started the stanza by scoring the first 12 points and giving Otterbein its largest lead of the second half at 76-67 with 6:45 remaining. Capital would respond immediately by rattling off the next 12 points over the course of four minutes and held 79-76 lead.
Otterbein was trailing by three and was forced to foul with three seconds left. Caroline Taphorn of Capital missed a pair of free throws, which allowed one final heave from beyond half-court for Kissel that was off the mark. Kissel registered 19 of the Cardinals 20 points in the final quarter.
Five different Crusaders tallied double-digits, and as a team they shot 54 percent from the field and 58 percent from behind the arc.
The Cardinals will be back in action Saturday afternoon as they host Heidelberg inside the Rike Center at 3 p.m.