WESTERVILLE – Women's basketball battled No. 20 Denison through several momentum swings Friday night at the Rike Center, evening the score late in the third quarter before Denison pulled away in the final 10 minutes for a 62–55 final.
Denison struck first, but Otterbein responded quickly and kept the opening quarter within reach. The Cardinals leaned on their interior presence to counter Denison's early pace and trailed just 14–10 after one.
Defense set the tone in the second quarter, as Otterbein held Denison to nine points over the 10-minute stretch. The Cardinals chipped away at the deficit with steady ball movement and second-chance opportunities, trimming the halftime margin to 23–21.
Otterbein carried that momentum into the third. Baskets from sophomore Mattie Walburn and free throws from junior Kyla Irby sparked a push midway through the quarter, while freshman Cameron Sparks continued to attack the paint. A Sparks jumper at the buzzer tied the game at 35–35, setting up a tightly contested final frame.
Denison answered early in the fourth with an 11–2 run, using offensive rebounds and trips to the free-throw line to create separation. Otterbein continued to battle, getting timely buckets from Sparks and a late three from Irby to keep the game within reach, but Denison's ability to convert late sealed the outcome.
Sparks led the Cardinals with 16 points and 11 rebounds, recording a double-double. Sophomore Kiara Hudgins followed with 10 points and three assists, while Irby added nine points and three assists. Walburn chipped in eight points, and sophomore Madilyn Stechschulte pulled down eight rebounds to help anchor the Cardinals on the glass.
Otterbein forced 19 turnovers and turned those into 18 points, while also finishing 13-of-19 at the free-throw line. Denison held a rebounding edge (49–36) and made the most of late possessions to remain unbeaten.
The Cardinals will look to bounce back when they return to action when hosting the Smokey Ballenger Tournament on Dec. 29–30, opening the event against Washington & Jefferson on Monday at 1 p.m. inside the Rike Center.
