WESTERVILLE, Ohio - The Wilmington College women's basketball team nearly climbed out of a 23-point hole, but Otterbein University held on for a 68-62 Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) victory at the Rike Center on Wednesday evening.
The Quakers simply couldn't put the ball in the hoop in the first quarter, making just 1-of-16 field goals and trailed 19-3 after 10 minutes. The Cardinals' lead would grow to 22 points as one of Olivia Majors' four triples made the score 34-12 with less than four minutes to play in the half. Wilmington stayed in the game, however, by not allowing a point over the final 3:34. During that stretch the visitors scored 10 points from four different players to get to the locker room down a dozen at 34-22.
Otterbein outscored Wilmington 15-14 in the third quarter and led 49-36 with 10 minutes to play, but the Quakers didn't go away. WC scored on its first three possessions to get back to single digits, and driving layups from Kyria Walker and Kennedy Lewis were followed by a Jada Pohlen free throw to make the score 54-50 midway through the quarter. The hosts pushed it back to eight points with two baskets, but consecutive Pohlen baskets followed by another free throw from the freshman pulled the Quakers to within three at 58-55 with under two minutes to play.
Majors missed a triple on the ensuing possession, but Otterbein got the rebound, and a Claire Radabaugh jumper followed by a WC miss sealed the game. The Cardinals, who had only gotten to the line five times in the first 38 minutes, made 8-of-10 free in the final minute to seal its their six consecutive win over the Quakers.
Otterbein finished 26-of-59 (44.1 percent) from the field along with making five triples on 16 tries and converting 11-of-15 (73.3 percent) from the free throw line. Wilmington shot 22-of-59 (37.3 percent) for the game, but made just two triples. The OAC's best free throw shooting team entering the game, the Quakers made 16-of-27 (59.3 percent) from the charity stripe. WC won the rebounding battle 33-31.
Majors led all scorers with a career-high 23 points while Radabaugh added 10 off the bench. Lewis finished with 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting for Wilmington while Pohlen and Marisa Seiler also scored in double figures. Cassidy Lovett added nine points with three steals.
Wilmington (10-6, 4-5 OAC) opens the second half of conference play hosting nationally-ranked Baldwin Wallace University on Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m.