SPRINGFIELD, Ohio – A step outside of conference play led Otterbein just west to nearby Wittenberg on the women's basketball scene, and the Cardinals unfortunately couldn't quite close out the game late despite entering the fourth quarter with a nine-point lead.

The host Tigers, erasing that deficit, nearly won in regulation before missing two free throws and seeing the game head to overtime. Wittenberg outlasted Otterbein in that extra session to emerge 65-58.

Witt snaps a two-game skid with the victory and beats a second OAC team this year, after opening the season with a notable triumph over nationally-ranked Ohio Northern.

THE PLOT:

• The first half was a 1-2 possession battle the entire way, with the largest lead being six (25-19) by Wittenberg approaching the midway point of the second quarter.
   
• Otterbein closed the half on a 10-2 burst, including consecutive layups from Katie McCrary in the final minute-ish, to find a 29-27 advantage by intermission.
   
• The Cardinals' best stretch came in the third, dropping 17 points and culminating the period on a lopsided 11-0 run. Nicole Terry made a layup with 90 seconds left in the frame, and neither team scored before the horn to give Otterbein a 46-37 lead entering the fourth.
   
• Wittenberg kicked back into gear and chipped away, tying the contest (52-52) within five minutes but never actually leading before the end of regulation. Both teams mustered just two points before overtime.
   
• The Tigers actually had a chance to eliminate the thought of OT in the final sequence of the fourth after Otterbein was called for a shooting foul, but both free throws with two seconds left missed the mark.
   
• A huge three-pointer from Olivia Majors gave Otterbein a 57-54 lead to begin the bonus time, but that would be the only field goal made by the Cards moving forward. Otterbein trailed by just two entering the final minute before a critical layup from the home side pushed the gap to multiple possessions.

THE STATS:

• Neither team shot above 40% in the defensive slugfest, which saw a combined 39 turnovers in 45 minutes.
   
• The Tigers only attempted two three-pointer the entire game while Otterbein went 2 of 15 from behind the arc.
   
• Maizie King led the Cards with a double-double of 14 points and 12 rebounds, while McCrary also scored 14.
   
• Riane Burton was a monster for the home side en route to game-highs of 26 points and 14 boards off the bench. She was 9 of 16 from the field.
   
• The Cardinals held Wittenberg leading scorer Jazmyn Gaines-Burns to just two points in 28 minutes of action.

SATURDAY SLATE:

The Cardinals will return home for a stiff test and return to conference action this Saturday afternoon, hosting Baldwin Wallace (6-2, 3-0 OAC) in the Rike Center for their long-awaited home opener. Tip is set for 1 p.m.