Women's basketball hosts Mount Union in OAC Semifinals

WESTERVILLE, Ohio – In what is shaping up to be an exciting night at the Rike Center, the Otterbein University women's basketball team is set to host Mount Union in the OAC Semifinals. The Cardinals – receiving votes in the latest D3hoops.com poll – earned the No. 2 seed for the OAC Tournament and a first round bye.

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The Cardinals won both games of the season series, knocking off the Purple Raiders in Alliance 61-53 before a 64-53 victory at the Rike. Sophomore Mattie Walburn came off the bench to score 20 points in their first meeting before erupting for 18 in the second matchup. Mount Union is fresh off a 74-57 win over Marietta in Tuesday's Quarterfinal contest after dropping both regular season games to the Pioneers.

SCOUTING OTTERBEIN (20-5, 14-2): Led by three All-OAC selections, a young Cardinal lineup has excelled all season long. First Team All-OAC honoree Mattie Walburn leads Otterbein, scoring just under 12 points per game. Sophomore Kiara Hudgins gets it done on both ends of the floor, averaging 8.4 points per game, 3.4 assists per game and 1.6 steals per game, shining all year en route to All-OAC accolades.

Cameron Sparks, the OAC Freshman of the Year, packs a punch inside, leading the Cardinals, hauling in 8.7 boards per game. Otterbein has depth with Madilyn Stechschulte (6.2 RPG) and Anna Waskiewicz (4.7) RPG, as well as Nicole Terry. Junior Abby Rawlings leads the OAC with 3.5 assists per game and her 2.68 assist/turnover ratio sits fourth nationally in Division III.

SCOUTING MOUNT UNION (18-8, 9-7): Elizabeth Mason is the engine behind a Mount Union team that got revenge on Marietta Tuesday night. The junior was a First Team All-OAC pick, who totals 12.1 PPG and averages 6.8 RPG for the Purple Raiders. Like Walburn, Mason scored 20 points in the Dec. 6 meeting. Mckayla Dunkle adds 8.7 PPG and 5.2 RPG, collecting Second Team All-OAC honors.

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Players Mentioned

#1 Kiara Hudgins: G; 5' 4"; Sophomore

#2 Abby Rawlings: G; 5' 3"; Junior

#23 Madilyn Stechschulte: F; 5' 9"; Sophomore

#24 Nicole Terry: F; 5' 10"; Junior

#21 Mattie Walburn: F; 5' 9"; Sophomore

#5 Anna Waskiewicz: G; 5' 6"; Junior

#34 Cameron Sparks: C; 6' 0"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#1 Kiara Hudgins
: 5' 4"; Sophomore
: G

#2 Abby Rawlings
: 5' 3"; Junior
: G

#23 Madilyn Stechschulte
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: F

#24 Nicole Terry
: 5' 10"; Junior
: F

#21 Mattie Walburn
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: F

#5 Anna Waskiewicz
: 5' 6"; Junior
: G

#34 Cameron Sparks
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: C