WESTERVILLE — Graduate student Kathleen DeCarlo and senior Maizie King led the way with double-digit scoring as the Otterbein women's basketball team fell to rival Capital, 58-50, in Ohio Athletic Conference action on Saturday.

The Basics

• Records: Otterbein (8-7 overall, 4-4 OAC), Capital (12-3 overall, 6-2 OAC)
• Venue: Rike Center - Westerville, Ohio

Otterbein Stat Leaders

• King lead the team with 11 points, eight rebounds, one steal and one assist. 
• DeCarlo tallied 11 points, four rebounds, two steals and one assist.
• Freshman Kiara Hudgins recorded six points, six assists, three rebounds and three steals.
• Sophomore Madilyn Stechschulte added eight points and four rebounds.

Game Highlights

• First Quarter: The Comets held the Cardinals to just six points in the first quarter. Capital opened with a 13-0 run before King finally put Otterbein on the scoreboard three minutes into the game. The Cardinals forced three turnovers from Capital in the opening quarter, which ended with a 21-6 score.
• Second Quarter: Otterbein found its rhythm and outscored Capital in the quarter, briefly narrowing the deficit to just five points after a jumper by freshman Mattie Walburn. However, the Comets responded with a 7-0 run to rebuild their 13-point advantage. The Cardinals also put together a 13-2 run during the quarter to close it out, 33-20.
• Third Quarter: Stechschulte sparked a surge for the Cardinals midway through the game with an and-1 play, cutting the deficit to three points.The Cardinals then claimed their first lead of the game when DeCarlo converted both of her free throws at the one-minute mark. Capital was able to end the quarter with a layup to go on top by one, 39-38.
• Fourth Quarter: Otterbein fought hard to stay in the game, responding to every basket made by Capital. Sophomore Kyla Irby converted a layup to cut the deficit to three with under 30 seconds remaining. The Cardinals continued to foul in an effort to stay within striking distance, but the Comets capitalized on their free throws to secure a 58-50 victory.
• Key Team Stats: Otterbein shot 33.9% from the field and was 3-of-16 (18.8%) from 3-point range. Capital shot 31.1% from the field and was 8-of-22 (36.4%) from 3-point range. The Cardinals were 7-of-13 (53.8%) from the free-throw line, while the Comets were 22-of-26 (84.6%). Otterbein out-rebounded Capital by a 38 to 34 margin.

Notables

• Irby has scored in double figures in 12 games this season and is averaging a team-high 14.5 points per game. She entered Saturday tied for fourth in the OAC in scoring average (15.2 points per game) and ranked first in free-throw percentage (89.2%), third in free throws made (58) and fourth in 3-pointers made (29).
• DeCarlo has scored in double figures in nine games on the season and is averaging 10.5 points per game.
• Otterbein entered Saturday tied with Marietta for fifth in the OAC standings, one game behind a two-way tie for third between Capital and Ohio Northern.
• Head coach Diana Noles is in her sixth year at Otterbein and has an all-time record of 71-59 at the helm of the Cardinals.
• Capital holds a slim 19-14 edge in the series against Otterbein dating back to 2009. The Comets have won four straight matchups.