ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Otterbein women's basketball has now won four consecutive games after a pair of victories at the St. Petersburg Classic. The Cardinals have outscored their last four opponents by an average of 13 points during their four game winning-streak. 

The Cardinals were led by the senior duo of Ali Cartnal and Dani Kissel, as Cartnal eclipsed 1,000 career points on day one against Penn State-Behrend and Kissel scored a game-high 17 versus Fontbonne the next day.

Game one: Otterbein – 68, Penn State-Behrend – 56
Otterbein and Penn State-Behrend traded baskets for the entire first quarter, as Otterbein owned the largest lead of the quarter at six points following a transition layup by Dani Kissel. Freshman Jenna Hoschouer finished a jumper in the paint with three seconds remaining in the period to give Otterbein a 18-16 advantage.

The second quarter turned into a defensive battle, as the two squads combined for 19 points. The Cardinal defense held the Lions to 33 percent in the second stanza, while forcing five turnovers.

Abbie Scholz filled up the stat sheet at the half by recording four points, 10 rebounds, five assists, one block and one steal, as the Cardinals owned a 27-26 lead.

Otterbein pulled away midway through the third quarter by scoring seven unanswered points and led 43-32. Jacy Jones and Cartnal combined for 17 of the Cards 26 points, including three three-pointers.

Otterbein built its largest lead in the game as Cartnal sliced through the Lion defense with eight minutes left to give the Cards a 55-41 edge. Cartnal connected on her second three-pointer of the second half at the 4:03 mark to surpass 1,000 career points.

Jones and Cartnal each tallied 16 points, as Scholz finished with a career-high 15 rebounds. The Cardinals as a unit recorded 12 second chance points, compared to two by the Lions.

Game two: Otterbein – 74, Fontbonne – 68 
Otterbein and Fontbonne would trade baskets for the entire first quarter, but the Cardinals held a 21-16 advantage as Delaney Cutteridge buried a pair of free throws after time expired in the period.

The Cardinal defense stepped up in the second stanza by not allowing Fontbonne to score a single point in the first five minutes.

With the defense dominating, Kissel connected on a three-pointer to give Otterbein its largest lead of the half at 26-16.

Sarah Schraut of Fontbonne made a three-pointer as time expired, as the Cardinals went into the break leading 33-26. Kissel led the Cardinals with 11 points and Otterbein as a unit held an 11-2 edge in second chance points.

In the third quarter Scholz went perfect from the floor and tallied six points, as the Cardinals owned a seven-point advantage heading into the final quarter. 

With 6:34 remaining Fontbonne cut the deficit to one, however Otterbein rattled off six consecutive points to build a 64-57 lead. Cartnal gave the Cardinals their largest lead of the game at 12 with free throws to close the game out. 

The Cardinals thrived at the charity stripe by shooting 21 of 23, which was goodfor 91 percent. Five different Cards finished in double figures, as Scholz finished with a season-high 14 points. 

Otterbein will be off until Dec. 29 when Westminster comes to Westerville for the annual Smokey Ballenger Classic at 3 p.m.