NEW CONCORD — Sophomore Kyla Irby scored a career-high 25 points as the Otterbein women's basketball team defeated Muskingum 62-59 in Ohio Athletic Conference play on Saturday.

The Basics

• Records: Otterbein (8-5 overall, 4-2 OAC), Muskingum (4-9 overall, 2-4 OAC)
• Venue: Steele Center - New Concord, Ohio

Otterbein Stat Leaders

• Irby led the team, notching her 11th double-digit scoring game of the season and setting a career-high with 25 points, along with adding a rebound and an assist to her stat line. She made four 3-pointers and was a perfect 5-for-5 from the free-throw line.
• Graduate student Kathleen DeCarlo recorded 12 points, five rebounds and five assists.
• Junior Abby Rawlings contributed eight points with two assists and a rebound.
• Freshman Kiara Hudgins added six points with three assists, two rebounds and five steals.
• Sophomore Anna Waskiewicz posted five points, five rebounds and two assists.

Game Highlights

• First Quarter: The two teams traded momentum throughout the first quarter, keeping the score within a four-point margin. However, the Muskies closed the quarter with a 10-0 run, ending it 19-13. DeCarlo accounted for six of Otterbein's 13 points in the period.
• Second Quarter: Irby started the quarter strong with a layup, a free throw and a 3-pointer to bring Otterbein within two points. The period saw three ties and constant back-and-forth action, with the teams trading the lead nearly every possession. With one second left in the half, Muskingum made a 3-pointer and took a 34-29 lead into halftime.
• Third Quarter: The Fighting Muskies held the lead throughout the entire quarter. Midway through, freshman Mattie Walburn hit a jump shot to bring the Cardinals within one, marking their closest point in the quarter. Both teams scored 11 points in the quarter, putting the score at 45-40 in favor of Muskingum.
• Fourth Quarter: Otterbein began the quarter down by five but quickly applied a defensive press. The pressure forced the Muskies into three consecutive turnovers, allowing the Cardinals to take a four-point lead. Riding that momentum, Otterbein went on a 9-0 run, prompting Muskingum to call a timeout to regroup. With the game tied and just over a minute remaining, Irby hit a 3-pointer to give the Cardinals a three-point lead, contributing 12 of the team's 22 points in the quarter. After some back-and-forth fouling, Otterbein secured the win, 62-59.
• Key Team Stats: Otterbein shot 40% from the field and was 7-of-16 (43.8%) from 3-point range. Muskingum shot 53.8% from the field and was 6-of-11 (54.5%) from 3-point range. The Cardinals were 11-of-12 (91.7%) from the free-throw line, while the Muskies were 11-of-19 (57.9%). Muskingum out-rebounded the Cardinals 31 to 25. 

Notables

• Irby has scored in double figures in 11 games this season and is averaging a team-high 15.2 points per game. The reigning OAC Player of the Week, she entered Saturday ranked fifth in the OAC in scoring average.
• DeCarlo has scored in double figures in seven games on the season and is averaging 10.2 points per game.
• Hudgins' five steals marked a single-game career high.
• Head coach Diana Noles is in her sixth year at Otterbein and has an all-time record of 71-58 at the helm of the Cardinals.
• Otterbein is 23-10 against Muskingum in the teams' series dating back to 2008.