SCRANTON, Pa. – The Otterbein University women's basketball team earned its first ever NCAA Tournament victory on Friday night, defeating Randolph-Macon 60-45 inside the John Long Center in the opening round of the Division III national tournament.
The win also marked a milestone night for head coach Diana Noles, who collected her 100th career victory as the Cardinals improved to 23-5 overall.
Otterbein put together a balanced effort on both ends, placing four players in double figures while holding Randolph-Macon to just 45 points. The Cardinals assisted on 20 of their 25 made field goals, forced 13 turnovers and finished with a 40-32 rebounding edge while limiting Randolph-Macon to just four second-chance points.
The Cardinals led 20-18 after the opening quarter, but Randolph-Macon answered early in the second and used a 7-0 stretch to move in front 25-20 with 7:42 left before halftime. Otterbein quickly responded behind a three-pointer from junior Abby Rawlings and steady play around the basket from freshman Cameron Sparks and sophomore Mattie Walburn. Sparks tied the game at 25-25 with 5:00 remaining in the half before sophomore Kiara Hudgins converted a layup to give the Cardinals the lead back. Otterbein closed the second quarter on a 13-2 run over the final five minutes to carry a 33-27 advantage into the locker room.
That momentum continued into the third quarter, where Randolph-Macon was limited to just three points. Otterbein continued to build separation with baskets from Madilyn Stechschulte, Walburn and Hudgins, while Rawlings knocked down another three-pointer in the closing seconds to send the Cardinals into the fourth quarter with a 48-30 lead.
Stechschulte opened the fourth with a three-pointer to stretch the margin to 21, and Otterbein stayed in control the rest of the way. Randolph-Macon never got closer than 14 in the final period as the Cardinals finished off the 60-45 win.
Sparks and Rawlings each scored 14 points to lead Otterbein, with Sparks adding a game-high 14 rebounds for a double-double. Walburn added 12 points, Rawlings finished with five assists, and Hudgins handed out seven assists while recording three steals.
Otterbein advances to the second round of the NCAA Tournament and will face host Scranton on Saturday, March 7, at 8:30 p.m.
