WESTERVILLE, Ohio — Marietta College fell behind early only to almost overcome an 11-point deficit, but still fell to Otterbein University, 65-60, Wednesday (Jan. 25) evening in Ohio Athletic Conference women's basketball action. With the loss, Marietta falls to 12-6 overall and 7-4 in the OAC. Otterbein improves to 11-7 on the season and is also 7-4 in league play.
Otterbein raced out to a 13-4 lead in the first few minutes on the period as the Pioneers struggled from the field, only making two of their first seven shots.
Paige Tolson's (Guysville, Ohio/Federal Hocking) fast break jumper cut the lead to five, but the Cardinals would answer with a 5-0 run to extend the lead to 18-8.
Ally Grake (Morrow, Ohio/Little Miami) would convert a layup and
Hannah Schill (Rootstown, Ohio/Archbishop Hoban) and
Makenzie Wilson (Wapakoneta, Ohio/Wapakoneta) scored on mid-range jumpers, keeping the Pioneers within range. Otterbein would close out the period with five unanswered points and led 25-14 at the end of the first quarter.
Marietta got themselves back in the game with a 13-0 run to begin the second quarter, fueled by six points from
Hannah Kroft (Marietta, Ohio/Marietta) off the bench.
Olivia Gribble (Irwin, Pa./Norwin) scored a layup to cut the lead to one and
Camille Cummins (MIddlefield, Ohio/Cardinal) gave the lead to the Pioneers as she went 3-4 from the free throw line. The two teams traded baskets for the remainder of the period but the Cardinals inched out to the 32-31 advantage going into halftime.
Gribble nailed a trey to give the Pioneers their first points of the second half, tying the game at 34.
Devin Hefner (Parkersburg, W.Va./Parkersburg South) followed with a driving layup and Marietta was back in the lead at 6:28 mark. Marietta's shooting woes returned as they missed on four consecutive opportunities, allowing Otterbein to go on an 8-0 run and retake the lead 42-36. Schill hit a three-pointer to cut the deficit, but Otterbein led, 44-39, heading into the fourth quarter.
Otterbein outscored the Pioneers 9-4 in the first three minutes of the final period, extending the lead back out to 10. Marietta mounted a comeback as Wilson scored a layup and Schill and Tolson hit from downtown, cutting the lead to three with 1:21 remaining. The Pioneers were forced to foul the Cardinals to stop the clock, and as a result, Otterbein iced the game going 7 for 8 from the line. The Cardinal would go on to win 65-60.
Schill led the Pioneers with 10 points. Tolson finished with nine points and Gribble score eight in the contest.
Erin Hahn (Louisville, Ohio/Louisville) had six points and the Marietta with nine rebounds.
Olivia Majors led all scorers with 19 points for the Cardinals. Jenna Hoschouer added 18 points, while Kathleen DeCarlo chipped in with 14 points and 11 boards.
The Pioneers travel to Baldwin Wallace University on Saturday (Jan. 28) for a scheduled 4 p.m. game against the Yellow Jackets.
Fans can follow the Pioneers all season long at
pioneers.marietta.edu. You can also follow the Pioneers on Facebook at
facebook.com/MariettaCollegeand @MariettaPioneer on Twitter and Instagram.
