PHOTO GALLERY

WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The Cardinals opened the first contest of a Roush Auto Rivalry Showdown against Capital in dominant fashion Saturday night in the Rike Center, blowing out their cross-town foe by a much closer final score (52-39) than how the game developed.

Otterbein led 18-1 after the first quarter, 33-14 at halftime and never looked back en route to completing the season sweep over the Comets. The Cardinals also retain possession of the "rivalry oar" after escaping Bexley earlier this season in overtime.
 
FRAME BY FRAME:

• The rematch was a much different plot. Otterbein used suffocating defense in the first quarter, holding Capital without a field goal and building a sizeable advantage.
   
• The Cardinals extended their commanding lead to 28-1 approaching the midway point of the second period. Capital finally made its first shot from the floor at the 6:06 mark, ending a 14-minute drought.
   
• Both sides traded hoops in a more even third quarter, with Otterbein keeping the gap around 20 most of the stretch.
   
• Capital kept playing hard during the fourth quarter, outscoring the Cardinals 15-7 but unable to make the full climb back. Neither team scored for over a three-minute stretch heading home.

 
STATS ON STATS:

• The Comets, missing all 13 shots in the first quarter, ended up shooting just over 30% for the game.
   
• Otterbein held a 21-1 edge in points off turnovers.
   
• Katie McCrary had 11 points, three steals and three assists. Angelia Jackson contributed a nice 10-6-4 game.
   
• Otterbein has now taken five of the last six meetings in this series.

 
NEXT WEEK:

Otterbein (12-4, 6-3 OAC) will have a stiff test this coming Wednesday, traveling down to nationally-ranked Marietta for start time at 7 p.m. The Cards lost earlier this season in Westerville (70-57) against the Pioneers.