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WESTERVILLE, Ohio – Unfortunate déjà vu took place for the Otterbein women's basketball team inside the Rike Center Saturday afternoon, watching Mount Union score in the closing seconds to escape with a two-point win for the second time this season.

The Cardinals, losing 68-66, were whistled for a late foul with 4.4 seconds remaining as players from both sides were jockeying for position through the lane. Mount Union's Elena Rauhe made both ensuing free throws as a result of being in the bonus, and a three-point attempt from Otterbein's Abby Zerkle on the other end just missed the mark as time expired.

Otterbein lost 66-64 just a few weeks ago at Mount Union, when the Raiders escaped on a three-point play with two seconds remaining. Both teams are now locked in a three-way tie with Capital for fifth in the league standings at 6-7. Otterbein is now 11-10 overall on the season, with four of those defeats by one possession.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Mount Union opened the game on a 10-3 run and eventually led, 24-17, after a high-scoring first quarter.
   
• The Cards trailed by as many as 10 in the second period, but locked in to hold the Purple Raiders scoreless for the final 7:57 of the frame. That allowed Otterbein to embark on a 13-0 run, and head into halftime with a 34-31 edge.
   
• Mount Union regained the lead on a three-point exactly midway through the third quarter, and ultimately carried a five-point cushion into the culminating period.
   
• Otterbein used a 6-0 run to tie the game at 54-54, and the matchup then encountered ties at 64 and 66 entering the final minute of regulation. The Cards would miss a pair of layups under the hoop with 14 seconds on the clock, giving Mount a final opportunity.
   
• After the foul call and free throws, Otterbein advanced the ball to midcourt with a timeout. Head Coach Diana Noles drew up a quality play that got Zerkle near the top of the key, and her potential game-winning three-point attempt barely misfired off the back of the rim.

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Zerkle had a team-high 17 points while Peyton McCord added 15 points and five boards off the bench. Sophomore guard Jenna Hoschouer did a bit of everything with nine points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals.
   
• Rauhe compiled game-bests of 21 points and 11 rebounds as the only player in double figures for Mount Union, which shot just 29 percent for the game but benefited from a huge rebounding effort.
   
• The Raiders hauled in 21 offensive boards throughout, leading to them taking 22 more shot attempts than the Cards. Mount Union launched 37 three pointers.
   
• Otterbein was a very strong 23 of 28 from the free-throw line and held a 28-16 advantage on points in the paint.
   
• Both sides wore pink warm-up shirts as part of their "Play 4 Kay" day, helping raise funds for cancer awareness/research in honor of former NC State head coach Kay Yow.

 
UP NEXT:

Otterbein will have a pair of key road games to keep pace in the middle of the league standings, traveling to Ohio Northern on Wednesday and then Muskingum next Saturday. Both games are slated to tip off at 7 p.m.