WESTERVILLE, Ohio – Leading 48-44 midway through the third quarter, Otterbein University went on a 29-10 run to pull away and claim an 88-67 Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) victory at the Rike Center on Friday evening.
The Cardinals (6-3) made 9-of-10 shots to begin the game including a 4-of-4 mark from distance to build a 25-16 advantage, but Zahrya Bailey connected on two layups, with an Otterbein basket in between, to pull the Fightin' Quakers within seven (27-20) after 10 minutes. The hosts maintained that advantage for the first half of the second quarter, but Wilmington held Otterbein scoreless over the final 4:33 of the half. During that time, three Quakers – McKayla Binkley, Brooke Stover and Cassidy Lovett – all score two points to make the halftime score 36-33 in favor of Otterbein.
That deficit stayed in that realm for the beginning of the third quarter as a Haley Cook free throw pulled WC within four (48-44) at the 5:43 mark. This quarter, however, it was Otterbein's turn to end on a run, scoring 12 of the final 19 points to lead 60-51 after three quarters. Unfortunately for the Quakers, the Cardinals replicated their start from the first quarter, making 8-of-9 to begin the period on a 17-1 run and put the game away.
Otterbein finished 36-of-67 (53.7 percent) from the field, 10-of-21 (47.6 percent) from distance and just 6-of-14 (42.9 percent) from the charity stripe. Wilmington, which lost the rebounding battle 44-35, countered with a 23-of-63 (36.5 percent) performance from the field alongside hitting four triples and making 17-of-26 (65.4 percent) from the free throw line.
Jenna Hoschouer led all scorers with 20 points on 9-of-14 shooting to go along with 10 rebounds while Katie McCrary added 18 points for Otterbein. Tamia Kendrick and Natalie Galaida also scored in double figures.
Bailey and Hannah Binkley finished with 11 points each for Wilmington in defeat. McKayla Binkley added nine points and four rebounds while Kelis Jones and Brooke Stover both netted eight points off the bench.
Wilmington (4-5) will look for its fifth consecutive season split against Otterbein tomorrow (Saturday) at Fred Raizk Arena.
