MARIETTA, Ohio – The Marietta College women's basketball team, off to one's its best starts in school history at 6-1 overall, gave nationally ranked Otterbein all it could handle on Saturday (Dec. 10) afternoon inside Ban Johnson Arena, but fell by the score of 68-60. The Pioneers fall to 6-2 overall and 2-1 in the Ohio Athletic Conference. The No. 25 ranked Cardinals improve to 7-1 overall and 2-1 in the OAC. [Box Score]

Sophomore guard #Tori Dixon (Londonderry/Vinton County)# led the way for Marietta with 17 points including going 3-of-4 from three-point range. Junior post #Aleisha Guiler (Lower Salem/Monroe Central)# scored 14 points and grabbed a team-high seven rebounds. Freshman guard #Sierra Sigman (Chillicothe/Zane Trace)# added 10 points with four rebounds in the loss.

Otterbein was led by Kristi Kotterman with a game-high 19 points and eight rebounds. Rachel Snedegar and Hannah Day each scored 11 points off the bench for the Cardinals while Shea McCoy chipped in 10 points in the win.

Both teams struggled from the field in the first half with the Cardinals shooting 34.4% and the Pioneers shooting only 23.1%. The score was tied at 10 with 14:25 left in the half before the Cardinals made a run to try and bury the Pioneers early.

Otterbein went on an 18-6 run over the next eight minutes to lead 28-16 with 6:38 to play before halftime. Marietta held the Cardinals scoreless the rest of the half and closed with an 8-0 run to cut the lead to 28-24 at the intermission.

The Cardinals regrouped at the half and started the second period on a 13-6 run to force a Marietta timeout leading 41-30 with 13:27 to play. The margin stayed around the 10-point range for the next eight minutes before Marietta started to chip away at the lead.

Dixon hit two threes in two possessions cutting the lead to five at 54-49 with five minutes to play in regulation. Otterbein was up to the task and quickly pushed the lead back to double digits. Marietta made one last push but came up short as Otterbein held on the rest of the way winning 68-60 on the road.

Marietta finished the game shooting 34.5% (20-of-58) from the field, 26.7% (4-of-15) from behind the arc and 84.2% (16-of-19) from the free throw line.

The Cardinals finished shooting 37.9% (25-of-66) from the field, 21.1% (4-of-19) from three and 58.3% (14-of-24) from the free throw line.

The Cardinals outrebounded the Pioneers 50-36 including 18 offensive boards. The Cardinals committed 16 turnovers to Marietta's 17.

The Pioneers will return to action on Tuesday (Dec. 13) evening as they will play host to Wilmington College in another OAC clash. Tip-off slated for 7:30 p.m.