MARIETTA — Freshman Mattie Walburn recorded a career-high 20 points as the Otterbein women's basketball team fell 64-60 to Marietta in Ohio Athletic Conference action on Wednesday night.

The Basics

• Records: Otterbein (10-10 overall, 6-7 OAC), Marietta (12-8 overall, 6-7 OAC)
• Venue: Ban Johnson Arena - Marietta, Ohio

Otterbein Stat Leaders

• Walburn led the Cardinals with a career-high 20 points and four rebounds.
• Graduate student Kathleen DeCarlo notched double digits in scoring, finishing with 11 points, two steals and one rebound.
• Sophomore Kyla Irby contributed seven points and four rebounds
• Sophomore Anna Waskiewicz added seven points, five rebounds and two assists.

Game Highlights

• First Quarter: Otterbein kicked off the game strong with Irby scoring the first layup, followed by sophomore Abby Rawlings and DeCarlo adding their own points. The Pioneers responded to each shot, attempting to close the gap, but freshman Madilyn Stechschulte and DeCarlo hit the final two shots of the quarter, keeping the Cardinals ahead 12-8.
• Second Quarter: The Cardinals maintained their lead throughout the entire quarter. Walburn hit back-to-back signature pull-up jumpers, pushing Otterbein ahead 18-14 around the seven-minute mark. The Cards then built their largest lead of the game, going up by seven points halfway through the quarter. However, before the half concluded, Marietta made a 3-pointer to close the gap, making it 29-27.
• Third Quarter: Marietta took its first lead of the game at the five-minute mark, 37-36, but Otterbein quickly responded with key baskets from Stechschulte, Walburn and DeCarlo, along with key three throws. Waskiewicz capped off the quarter with a layup, giving the Cardinals a 46-39 advantage.
• Fourth Quarter: Marietta tied the game at 48-48 with seven minutes remaining, fueled by a 9-2 run. The score remained even until just over the five-minute mark, when Waskiewicz made a layup. However, Marietta quickly responded, knotting it up again at 50-50. The Pioneers then took their first lead of the game with a 3-pointer, making it 53-50. The Cardinals battled back, keeping the game within one on three occasions, but Marietta capitalized on free throws down the stretch to secure the 64-60 victory. 
• Key Team Stats: Otterbein shot 46% from the field and was 1-of-7 (14.3%) from 3-point range. Marietta shot 36.7% from the field and was 5-of-19 (26.3%) from 3-point range. The Cardinals were 13-of-16 (81.3%) from the free-throw line, while the Pioneers were 15-of-18 (83.3%). Otterbein out-rebounded Marietta by a 34-32 margin.

Notables

• Walburn's previous career-high was 15 points at Baldwin Wallace on Dec. 7. She has scored in double figures in seven games this season and is averaging 7.9 points per game.
• Irby has scored in double figures in 15 games this season and is averaging a team-high 13.3 points per game. She entered Wednesday ranked fifth in the OAC in scoring average (13.6 points per game), third in free-throw percentage (85.1%), fourth in free throws made (74) and tied for sixth in 3-pointers made (34).
• DeCarlo has scored in double figures in 13 games this season and is averaging 10.9 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. She entered Wednesday tied for sixth in the OAC in rebounding average (6.6 per game) and ranked 10th in scoring average (10.9 points per game).
• Head coach Diana Noles is in her sixth year at Otterbein and has an all-time record of 73-62 at the helm of the Cardinals.
• Otterbein entered Wednesday in fifth place in the OAC standings, two games behind a third-place tie between John Carroll and Ohio Northern. Marietta entered the day in sixth place, one game behind Otterbein. The top six teams qualify for the OAC Tournament.
• Otterbein holds an 18-16 edge in the series against Marietta dating back to 2008. In the teams' prior meeting this season, on Dec. 21, the Cardinals came away with a 76-63 win in Westerville.