Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

ANGOLA, Ind. - Otterbein split even over its two games at the Cameron Hospital Classic, hosted Friday and Saturday by Trine University. The Cardinals, playing in their second weekend tournament in a row, began the action with a victory against Olivet (by nine points) before taking a loss to No. 8-ranked Trine in the finale.

OLIVET RECAP (W 68-59):

Both teams found equal competition at the start of the game, matching one another offensively with the Cardinals only leading by one after the first quarter
(12-11). Maizie King and Natalie Galaida each nailed a three-pointer to push the Cards ahead at the start of the second, but the Comets continued to keep pace and only trailed by four at the end of the half.

The Cardinals had 16 points off their bench entering the break while the Comets only tallied three from non-starters. Otterbein overcame a tough 5-of-19 shooting effort in the first quarter to convert over 50 percent of attempts in the second. Olivet was a bit more steady at 35 percent in both quarters.

Otterbein began to create separation and widen its lead in the third quarter thanks to a few breakaway layups and two additional three-pointers from Galaida, equaling an eight-point lead (50-42) to begin the last frame. However, the Comets came out quick in the final quarter and evened up the score (50-50) after an eight-point run...

But the Cardinals quickly bounced back to finish the game with poise, getting a timely three-pointer from Galaida to halt the Olivet momentum and then another critical layup from their senior in the closing minutes to extend the gap to seven (63-56).

Both teams finished with exactly 30 points in the paint while Otterbein earned a 15-6 edge in points off turnovers.

Galaida and point guard Katie McCrary led the way for Otterbein with each contributing 17 points. McCrary went 9 of 11 on free throws and scored four from the field, while Galaida was a crisp 5 of 6 in the three-point department and found her last two points in the form of that crucial layup.

Fifth-year seniors Jenna Hoschouer and Kathleen DeCarlo, seeing her first action of the season, impacted the game in multiple ways. The duo combined for 15 points and 15 rebounds, with Hoschouer also picking up a game-high four steals.

TRINE RECAP (L 66-54):

Otterbein faced a tall order on Saturday against host Trine, coming off a 28-4 season in which it made the NCAA Final Four before bowing out to eventual national champion Hope. The Thunder, now ranked No. 8 in the D3hoops.com preseason poll, captured early momentum with a 22-13 lead after one quarter.

The Cardinals eventually settled in to battle throughout a lower-scoring frame in the second, posting a 12-8 scoring advantage to only trail by two possessions entering the break. Otterbein then appeared to come out with an advantage at the start of the third quarter thanks to two team fouls from Trine within the first 30 seconds, which led Claire Radabaugh to sink two free throws. The following two defensive sequences from Otterbein lead to a shot clock violation for Trine as well as a charge call drawn by Katie McCrary.

Neither team was able to score over the next three-plus minutes, but the Thunder soon began heating up while the Cards unfortunatel remained a bit cold. Trine would close the third period on an 18-6 run and never look back.

Otterbein did score the initial basket of the fourth on a jumper from Olivia Majors, but the hosts gathered themselves immediately to soon push the gap to 20 points.

McCrary totaled 14 points before fouling out while DeCarlo also reached double figures at 10 even. Trine was an astounding 30 of 32 at the free-throw line while the Fards were only awarded 12 attempts, making seven.

Trine held a 24-14 advantage in bench scoring while the two sides combined to go 7 of 28 from three-point range.

UP NEXT:

Otterbein will have 10 full days off before launching Ohio Athletic Conference play at nationally-ranked Marietta after Thanksgiving.