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WESTERVILLE, Ohio —  The Otterbein women's basketball team won in another exciting fashion Wednesday evening inside the Rike Center, prevailing by a score of 78-72 over Marietta in overtime. The teams now split the season series together, as Marietta won the OAC opener (75-65) way back in November.

With the victory, the Cards improve to 11-7 overall and 7-4 in conference play to break a tie with Marietta and other bunched up teams. Otterbein is tied for second in the standings alongside Baldwin Wallace and Capital, and will travel across town for a key showdown against the Crusaders come Saturday.

Otterbein led 20-16 after a high-scoring first quarter, and later took a 37-31 edge into the locker room for halftime.

The Cards bumped their deficit to double digits early in the third period, grabbing a 46-34 lead at the 7:34 mark after Ali Cartnal found Alex Schaffer for a layup down low. That play would mark Otterbein's largest lead of the night.

Marietta (11-7, 6-5 OAC) stayed the course and slowly chipped away, using a 12-3 run of its own across the next four-plus minutes to make it a one-possession game. Otterbein halted the Pioneer momentum on a layup from Abbie Scholz moments later and eventually carried a 57-50 advantage into the last quarter.

Marietta scored first to begin the final frame and kept the gap within two possessions the rest of the way, ultimately tying the score at 67-67 on a pair of free throws from Bailee Brooks with 1:45 to play in regulation. That score wouldn't budge prior to overtime as both teams missed three shots, including a final three-point attempt from Cartnal in the closing seconds.

Otterbein took control in the extra session and never relinquished the lead, getting a timely three-pointer from Angelia Jackson to start and then seizing a two-possession lead on a pair of free throws by Scholz. Marietta trailed 75-72 in the final minute but free throws from Jackson and Dani Kissel, combined with a pair of defensive stops, helped seal the game.

Otterbein used a balanced offensive attack with five players reaching double figures; Jackson (15), Kissel (15), Cartnal (15), Scholz (12) and Alex Schaffer (10). Cartnal, who previously went over 1,000 career points this season, now moves into the top-10 scorers in program history as a result.

Scholz also snagged 11 boards to register a double-double, while adding three steals and three assists.

Corrie Burkhardt dropped a game-best 18 to lead Marietta, which shot 44 percent from the field compared to Otterbein's 36 percent. Both sides were a combined 7 of 36 from three-point range.

Otterbein made up for its field-goal percentage in other areas, forcing 22 turnovers while committing just 12 of its own. The Cards turned those opportunities into 24 points and also made as many free throws (22) as Marietta attempted.