WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The Otterbein women's basketball team came away by winning a pair of games at the 39th-annual Smokey Ballenger Classic, as the Cardinals defeated Westminster and Oberlin.

Game One: Otterbein – 68, Westminster – 40  
The Cardinals launched the weekend in convincing fashion, opening the game with a 14-1 run and ultimately carrying a double-digit lead into halftime.

Otterbein benefited from a cold Westminster offense and stretched the lead to 18 by the end of the third period. The Titans (4-6) scored a pair of quick buckets to begin the fourth, but the Cards countered with an 18-0 run to put the game away.
 
Dani Kissel led all players with 19 points, while Alex Schaffer (13) and Angelia Jackson (10) also reached double figures. Abbie Scholz tied for a game-high nine rebounds while Jackson corralled six of her own.
 
Westminster struggled mightily from the field, shooting just 15 of 48 (.313) for the game and going 1 of 15 behind the arc. The Titans committed 27 turnovers as Otterbein manufactured 23 points off the opponent miscues.
 
Game Two: Otterbein – 64, Oberlin – 44
The Cardinals continued their aggressive defense by forcing 11 turnovers in the first quarter, which helped build a 16-7 lead.

Otterbein attacked the basket in the first half, as the Cardinals attempted 12 free throws compared to two by the Yeomen. Scholz and Kissel led the way by each tallying eight points at the break, as Otterbein led 31-18. 

Otterbein opened up the second half by rattling off eight consecutive points and increased its lead to 21. Jackson connected on a mid-range jumper with 28 seconds left in the third quarter to give the Cardinals their largest lead of the game at 55-28.

Kissel led all scorers with 18, as Scholz came away with 15 points and was one rebound shy of her second double-double this year. The Cardinal defense ended the afternoon by forcing 23 turnovers, while holding the Yeomen to 35 percent shooting from the floor. 

Otterbein will be back in action on Wednesday as it will host John Carroll inside the Rike Center at 7 p.m.