ADA, Ohio – An upset bid on the road came up just short in the closing minutes for Otterbein at No. 13-ranked Ohio Northern, as the Polar Bears held on down the stretch before expanding the margin to 65-54 by final horn.

The Cardinals, who lost a double-overtime contest with ONU just a few weeks back, trailed 49-46 with four minutes to play but unfortunately ran out of gas late. Ohio Northern improves to 18-2 overall this season with another W.

HOW IT PLAYED OUT:

• Otterbein hung close throughout the entire first half, trailing by a possession after the first quarter (13-11) before facing a non-point deficit midway through the second…
   
• The Cards settled down and closed the first half on a slightly-better note, heading into the locker room down just 27-22.
   
• Ohio Northern reopened a nine-point gap (36-27) heading down the stretch of the third quarter, but the Cardinals regrouped admirably to close the frame on a 13-5 run. Jenna Hoschouer beat the buzzer with a fast-break layup to get her team within 41-40…
   
• The Polar Bears never trailed in the fourth quarter but couldn't shake Otterbein easily. The Cards scraped to within a single point, 47-46, after a driving layup from Katie McCrary with roughly 4:15 to play…
   
• However, ONU embarked on an 8-0 run spanning the next two minutes that created enough separation before a three-pointer from Maizie King stopped the bleeding. In the end, the gap would be just too much…

 
BOX SCORE NOTABLES:

• King reached double-figure scoring for the first time this season, posting 14 on a perfect 5 of 5 from the field in just 14 minutes. McCrary added 13 while Hoschouer scored 10.
   
• Both teams shot an identical 22 of 51 (.431) for the game.
   
• Brynn Serbin (19) and Brooke Allen (18) combined for more than half of Ohio Northern's team total.
   
• Ohio Northern benefited from extra points at the charity stripe, going 16 of 26 compared to just 6 of 14 on the Cardinal side.

 
UP NEXT:

• The Cardinals will return home and welcome nationally-ranked Baldwin Wallace to the Rike Center this weekend as part of Senior Day. Tip is slated for 4 p.m.