BEREA —The Otterbein women's basketball team kicked off its Ohio Athletic Conference schedule with a 69-48 loss at No. 19 Baldwin Wallace on Saturday afternoon.

The Basics

• Records: Otterbein (2-4 overall, 0-1 OAC), Baldwin Wallace (6-1 overall, 1-0 OAC)
• Venue: Ursprung Gymnasium - Berea, Ohio

Otterbein Stat Leaders

• Graduate student Kathleen DeCarlo led the team with 16 points and six rebounds, finishing a perfect 2-for-2 from the free-throw line.
• Freshman Mattie Walburn contributed 15 points and two rebounds
• Sophomore Nicole Terry recorded seven points and pulled down a rebound.
• Senior Maizie King totaled four rebounds and two points.
• Freshman Kiara Hudgins collected five rebounds.

Game Highlights

• First Quarter: The Cardinals led the entire quarter, with DeCarlo contributing eight of their 15 points. The game remained close throughout, but Otterbein managed to maintain a slight lead, with Walburn finishing the period with a 3-pointer to put the score at 15-11 at the end of the first quarter.
• Second Quarter: Otterbein maintained the lead until the Yellow Jackets tied the game twice, at 19-19 and 22-22. Despite several turnovers, Otterbein countered with strong rebounding efforts. BW then took its first lead of the game and finished the quarter ahead, 29-22.
• Third Quarter: Otterbein tried to narrow the gap, but Baldwin Wallace kept control of the game. BW stretched its lead with a 3-pointer from Emily Irwin and a series of layups. Otterbein had some success, such as a layup from sophomore Kyla Irby and free throws from DeCarlo, but could not overcome the deficit. The quarter ended with Baldwin Wallace leading 52-32, capitalizing on the Cardinals' turnovers and securing several offensive rebounds. 
• Fourth Quarter: Otterbein showed strong effort, scoring its highest point total in the quarter, but struggled to close the gap as Baldwin Wallace maintained control. Baldwin Wallace built on its lead with free throws, rebounds and a series of layups, reaching its largest advantage of the game at 23 points. The game concluded with Baldwin Wallace claiming the 69-48 victory.
• Key Team Stats: Otterbein shot 33.9% from the field, making 19 of 56 attempts, and 20% from beyond the arc. In contrast, Baldwin Wallace shot 46.7% from the field, hitting 28 of 60 shots, and 21.4% from three-point range. The Cardinals converted 7 of 12 free throws (58.3%), while the Yellow Jackets made 10 of 14 (71.4%). Baldwin Wallace out-rebounded Otterbein 41 to 30.

Notables

• Head coach Diana Noles is in her sixth year at Otterbein and has an all-time record of 65-57 at the helm of the Cardinals.
• Baldwin Wallace has won 10 of the past 11 meetings with Otterbein.
• Baldwin Wallace is ranked No. 19 nationally this week in the D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll and No. 18 in the WBCA Division III Poll.
• With Wednesday's win at Ohio Northern, Baldwin Wallace head coach Cheri Harrer became the all-time winningest head basketball coach, men's or women's, in OAC history with 693 career victories.