PHOTO GALLERY

ADA, Ohio – It was a tough result to swallow and will surely remain that way for quite some time in/around the Otterbein women's basketball program, which came up one-point shy in the OAC Tournament Semifinals despite leading for nearly the entire second half.

In the end… top seed, regular-season champ and No. 18-ranked Ohio Northern somehow prevailed (52-51) in a knock down, drag-it-out, defensive slugfest. The Polar Bears will host Marietta in Saturday's title game with the winner earning an automatic bid to the upcoming NCAA's.

Otterbein, seeded fourth in the six-team bracket, entered as perhaps the hottest team in the league (six-game winning streak) and appeared ready to make just its third OAC Championship appearance in program history down the stretch. Unfortunately, the Cardinals will settle with a 17-10 overall record after overcoming adversity and many tight finishes this winter…

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Neither team led by more than four in a close first half, which saw Kathleen DeCarlo pick up two fouls very early. The Cardinals settled in without their fifth-year senior, playing solid post defense and watching ONU miss a handful of close layups.
   
• Both sides struggled offensively in the second quarter, combining to shoot 8 of 31 in the frame as Otterbein ultimately took a slight 27-24 lead into the break.
   
• The Cardinals led practically the entire second half. Each team scored 15 points in the third quarter, with Otterbein opening a five-point gap (35-30) midway through but clinging to a one-possession lead entering the fourth.
   
• Fourth quarters weren't necessarily kind to Otterbein this season, but a sturdy Cardinal squad hung tough right to the wire this time around. The team led 46-42 with 7:51 remaining before going scoreless across the next five minutes.
   
• Eventually, the game saw ties at 46-46 and 48-48 before a contested layup (that bounced on the rim three times) fell for the hosts with just 14 seconds on the clock. Not to be outdone, Katie McCrary drove to the rack directly out of a timeout and converted a layup with contact. She was fouled, made the ensuing free throw, and suddenly the Cardinals were ahead 51-10…
   
• ONU's Brynn Serbin, a contender for OAC Player of the Year, was rewarded two free throws after driving into traffic on the other end. She made both as the Polar Bears regained a lead with five seconds on the clock.
   
• Otterbein advanced the ball and saw one last opportunity, but a jumper from McCrary on the right side just barely missed the mark.
   

STAT CHECK:

• Both teams shot a combined 4 of 26 from three-point range.
   
• McCrary, who missed almost two months this season due to injury, led Otterbein with 12 points while Olivia Majors (9) and Jenna Hoschouer (8) flirted with double figures.
   
• Ohio Northern's Brooke Allen carried her team with a double-double of 16 points and 15 rebounds. Serbin finished with 11 points after going just 2 of 13 from the field.
   
• The Polar Bears shot 15 of 25 at the free-throw line while Otterbein didn't get there as much, going 4 of 7.
   
• Each time posted exactly 34 points in the paint.