MARIETTA, Ohio – A strong all-around effort lifted the Otterbein University women's basketball team to a 64–44 road win at Marietta College on Wednesday night. The Cardinals controlled the game from start to finish to remain unbeaten in Ohio Athletic Conference play, improving to 7–2 overall and 3–0 in the league.
Freshman Cameron Sparks paced Otterbein with a dominant performance inside, finishing with 24 points and 12 rebounds while shooting an efficient 10-of-11 from the field. The double-double marked her third of the season and her highest scoring performance this year. Junior Kyla Irby added 15 points, knocking down three shots from beyond the arc, while junior Abby Rawlings helped direct the offense with five assists.
Otterbein set the tone early, opening the game with strong defensive pressure and efficient scoring to build a 16–9 advantage after the first quarter. The Cardinals continued to find success in the paint during the second quarter, extending the lead to 31–18 at the break.
Marietta looked to gain momentum coming out of halftime, trimming the deficit during the third quarter, but Otterbein responded with timely stops to maintain control. The Cardinals entered the final period with a 43–30 lead and never allowed the Pioneers to make a serious push.
Otterbein put the game away in the fourth quarter, outscoring Marietta 21–14 behind continued pressure on the defensive end and strong interior play. The Cardinals forced 21 turnovers on the night, turning those miscues into 16 points while also finishing with 14 steals and seven blocks.
The Cardinals also held an advantage inside, scoring 32 points in the paint and holding Marietta to 32.7 percent shooting from the floor.
Otterbein will return home Friday night to host non-conference opponent Denison at 6 p.m. inside the Rike Center.