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Otterbein University Athletics

Otterbein Cardinals

WBB Seniors
57
Muskingum MUSK 13-12,6-10 OAC
80
Winner Otterbein OTT 20-5,14-2 OAC
Muskingum MUSK
13-12,6-10 OAC
57
Final
80
Otterbein OTT
20-5,14-2 OAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Muskingum MUSK 13 11 18 15 57
Otterbein OTT 19 17 28 16 80

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Cardinals secure first 20-win season since 2012-13, host OAC Semifinal on Thursday

WESTERVILLE – For the first time since the 2012-13 season, the Otterbein University women's basketball team secured a 20-win season, knocking off Muskingum University 80-57 in the regular season finale. Otterbein heads into tournament play with a 20-5 overall record, clinching the No. 2 seed and will host a semifinal game. 

Prior to the contest, Otterbein celebrated seniors Juju Grubich and Ella Nagel, who each scored in the win. Freshman Cameron Sparks was unstoppable, scoring 26 points on a 9 of 11 shooting effort, including a perfect 8 for 8 at the foul line. Sparks recorded her fifth career double-double, hauling in 11 rebounds to go with her new career-best in points. 



After a sluggish opening quarter, the Cardinals still held a 19-13 lead. Muskingum cut the lead to one, but Otterbein scored the final five points of the period to create a small run. In the second, the Muskies once again rallied to trim Otterbein's lead to a one possession contest, but the Cardinals immediately responded to inflate the lead back to double digits. At the half, Otterbein led 36-24. 

The Cardinals maintained all pressure in the second half, never letting up in the season finale. It was a complete team effort, as juniors Kyla Irby and Abby Rawlings scored in double figures with 13 and 11 points. Irby was a stout 3 for 5 beyond the arc, while Rawlings tallied six assists and five rebounds. 

Heading into Saturday's game, Rawlings ranked fifth in Division III in assist/turnover ratio (2.48). In the win over Muskingum, Rawlings finished with zero turnovers to go along with her six dimes. Kiara Hudgins turned in a strong performance, scoring nine points and bringing down nine rebounds. She also fished out four assists for the Cardinals. 

Led by Irby, Otterbein connected on 41 percent of its 3-pointers and shot 44 percent from the floor. At the other end, the Muskies struggled from deep, shooting just 25 percent and 33 percent from the field. 

On Thursday, Otterbein will host an OAC semifinal game with a time still TBA. The Cardinals will face off against the winner of No. 3 Mount Union and No. 6 Marietta, being played on Tuesday in Alliance. 
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