WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The host Otterbein women's basketball team was forced to settle with a split in its Smokey Ballenger Classic on Saturday afternoon, coming up just short in the title game against Denison after working past Olivet in the opener.

The Cardinals, getting back to hosting their annual holiday event after visiting another event last year, now stand 4-7 on the season despite a valiant effort against the Big Red (9-2).

Afterwards, post players Maizie King and Nicole Terry were named to the All-Tournament Team as a result of their contributions over the two-day showcase in the Rike Center.

OLIVET RECAP (W 54-47):

A tough offensive game for both sides featured Otterbein holding an early 13-7 lead before the Comets worked back to lead 20-19 midway through the second quarter. The Cards rattled off five quick points to eventually lead 24-20 at intermission.

Cold shooting continued across the second half, but Otterbein continued benefittng from Olivet turnovers and made free throws after drawing contact. That allowed the Cards to build double-digit leads (35-25, 38-28) approaching the fourth period.

Both sides posted their highest-scoring frames in the fourth, with Otterbein comfortably ahead by 11 with a few minutes to go until Olivet marginally shrunk the final outcome. Abby Rawlings connected on 7 of 8 free throws in the closing 48 second for all of her scoring.

The two teams combined to shoot 3 of 33 from three-point range, with Otterbein going 1 of 21 itself. The Cards shot just 22% from the field overall but forced 26 Olivet turnovers, which allowed 18 more shots attempted.
Otterbein also found a nice edge at the charity stripe by making 21 of 27 free throws, compared to just a 9-of-14 effort on the visitor side.

Maizie King led the hosts with a double-double of 10 points and career-high 15 rebounds. She also had two blocks/steals.

Claire Radabaugh and Ella Nagel both scored 10 themselves, while Rawlings had a season-best eight rebounds in corralling some scrappy opportunities off the rim.

DENISON RECAP (L 66-57):

Otterbein led most of the first half behind another stingy defensive performance, leading 19-14 after one quarter and then holding Denison to just nine points in the second. The Cards led by as many as seven in the second frame (with King battling foul trouble) and settled for a one-possession cushion at the break.

The lead exchanged hands a few times to begin the third, as Otterbein led 37-32 until the Big Red charged back to strike an 18-6 run bridging into the final period. That stretch gave the visitors a 50-43 edge.

The Cards inched back to make it a two-possession game at one point, but Denison quickly maneuvered the gap to double digits and finished behind solid free-throw shooting.

Abby Cooch and Ada Taute both scored 18 points and made the All-Tournament Team for Denison, joined by the pair of Cardinals along with Lily Connelly (Olivet) and Meghan Dryburgh (W&J). Cooch was named MVP after an 18-6-6-4 line in the championship.

Olivia Majors scored 15 to pace Otterbein while King had 11 points and eight boards in just 21 minutes. Terry snagged a game-best nine rebounds off the bench.

Otterbein was just 4 of 20 from three-point range while the Big Red shot 40% in the category. The high-whistle game featured a combined 39 fouls issued in 40 minutes of action. Denison also held a 16-3 scoring edge on the fast break.

HAPPY NEW YEAR:

After the calendar flips, Otterbein will get back into conference action with a matchup against defending OAC champ Ohio Northern.