BEXLEY, Ohio - Women's Basketball opened up Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) play Saturday afternoon with a thrilling 65-63 overtime victory across town at Capital in its Roush Auto Rivalry Showdown.
The Cardinals (5-1) trailed the Comets (2-5) by five with just over two minutes to play in overtime, but a 7-0 run to close things out gave the Cardinals their fourth win in the last five meetings.
WHAT TOOK PLACE:
- The Comets jumped out to an early advantage, winning the first two quarters by three points for a 28-22 halftime lead.
- Otterbein shot 9-of-29 from the field in the first half but hung around thanks to a 4-of-14 effort from Capital in the second quarter.
- Trailing late in the fourth, the Cardinals lost their leading scorer in Katie McCrary, who fouled out with just over three minutes left in regulation.
- After that sequence, Capital built a five-point lead with just 57 seconds left to play.
- Without McCrary off the floor, the Cards turned to their second-leading scorer in Bryn Mangold. The fifth-year post scored five-straight points, including a significant and-one opportunity with just 28 seconds on the clock to force overtime.
STATS THAT COUNT:
- The Cardinal bench stepped up when it mattered, holding a 19-7 scoring edge over the Comet reserves. Natalie Galaida, a Capital transfer, led the reserves with eight.
- Mangold led all Cardinals with 19 points, including nine in a row during crunch time bridging regulation and overtime. She added seven rebounds and tree blocks.
- Angelia Jackson chipped in 10, making a trio of shots behind the arc, while Jenna Hochouer pulled down a career-high 11 boards.
- Both teams combined for 33 turnovers and a 13 of 47 rate from three-point range.
LOOKING AHEAD:
Otterbein will have the middle of next week off for final exams before welcoming Muskingum to Westerville on December 11. Game time is set for 2 p.m.
