PHOTO GALLERY

WESTERVILLE, Ohio – A battle of 6-1 teams didn't quite go the way Otterbein hoped Wednesday night at the Rike Center, as the visiting Marietta Pioneers grabbed early momentum and never let up to secure a timely Ohio Athletic Conference win.

Marietta, bouncing back after its first/only loss over the week to No. 16-ranked Baldwin Wallace, never trailed in the contest and ultimately departed with a 70-57 decision. As a result, the Cardinals now stand 6-2 overall after entering with four-straight victories.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Marietta used a dominant effort on the glass to capture the initial lead and never look back. The Pioneers held a 17-9 cushion after one quarter and didn't take their feet off the gas.
   
• Otterbein scored three quick points to begin the second quarter, but an 11-2 run by the visitors created a double-digit deficit. Marietta eventually took a 37-24 lead into the break.
   
• A 12-2 run by the Pioneers commenced the third quarter, placing Otterbein in its biggest hole of the night at 49-26. The Cardinals regathered to embark on a 13-2 spurt of their own, getting back within a dozen approaching the final frame.
   
• Unfortunately, Otterbein could never get inside single digits the rest of the way.

NOTABLE STATS:

• Marietta, which grabbed a combined 52 offensive rebounds against Otterbein in two meetings last season, had a 10-0 edge in the category at intermission and settled with 16 on the night. The Pioneers held a total rebounding margin of 45-29.
   
• Marietta held a 34-16 edge on points in the paint and had six players finish with eight or more points.
   
• Angelia Jackson (17) led Otterbein in scoring, making five three-pointers and also snagging six caroms.
   
• Katie McCrary scored 14 points while Kathleen DeCarlo had a 12-7-4 game off the bench. She and McCrary each made all six of their free-throw attempts.

THIS WEEKEND:

Otterbein stays at home entering Saturday afternoon, welcoming the nationally-ranked Yellow Jackets to the Rike for a start time at 2 p.m.