WESTERVILLE, Ohio — The Marietta College women's basketball fell behind after one quarter, but fought back to make a game out of their matchup with Otterbein University on Wednesday (Feb. 4) evening.  The Pioneers went cold from the field in the final minutes, though, and the Cardinals were able to take the lead and eventually claim a 71-66 victory.  With the loss, Marietta drops to 10-11 overall and 5-7 in the OAC. Otterbein improves to 15-5 on the season and is also 9-2 in league play. 

Both teams started slow, but Otterbein finally got on the board with a jumper from Mattie Walburn to open the scoring.  Marietta answered with a basket from TJ Carpenter (Jackson, Ohio/Jackson) and, after a steal from Kelsey Harlan (Sardis, Ohio/River), took the lead with a layup from Ava Heller (Thornville, Ohio/Sheridan).  The Cardinals turned the tables with a troublesome 16-3 run over the next several minute and took a 20-11 lead moving into the second quarter.

Marietta had a trouble getting anything going early in the second period as Carpenter provided the only Pioneer points in the first four minutes.  Heller hit from three-point range at the 5:04 mark to cut the lead to eight, but the Cardinals answered with a pair of layups to extend the lead back to double digits.  Marietta closed out the half with a 7-0 run, including two strong layups from Ella McMillen (Shreve, Ohio/West Holmes), and the Pioneers only trailed 31-26 going into halftime.

The third quarter watched both teams go on sizable runs, but Otterbein had early success scoring the first seven points.  Heller answered with a pair of shots from the paint to cut into the deficit.  Sophie Nelson (Parkersburg, W.Va./Ritchie County) hit from behind the arc for Marietta to cut the lead to six, but Abby Rawlings did the same for the Cardinals a minute later.  Marietta went a clutch 6-for-6 from the free throw line to inch closer, but the Cardinals again answered with a 5-0 rally, including a three-pointer from Kyla Irby, to put the advantage back at 10 points.  The Pioneers closed out the quarter with an Emma Rasmussen (Wadsworth, Ohio/Archbishop Hoban) layup and cut the lead to 52-46 heading into the fourth quarter.

Harlan came on strong in the fourth period as she scored five of the first seven Pioneer points, helping Marietta cut the lead to one point with eight minutes remaining.  Amelia Uhrig's (Chillicothe, Ohio/Unioto) jumper just one minute later put the Pioneers in the lead for the first time since the first quarter.  The lead was short-lived as the Cardinals answered with a jumper from Abby Rawlings and three pointer from Irby to go up by four.  Marietta was able to tie it up again as Payten Bruns (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Darby) went 4-for-4 from the line to lock up the score at 61.  Marietta had further opportunities but went cold from the floor, missing on four consecutive shots.  During that span, Otterbein hit two big shots to extend the lead to six with less than two minute remaining.  With Marietta forced to foul to stop the clock, the Cardinals iced the contest with four clutch free throws.  Otterbein would go on to claim the 71-66 conference victory.
 
Heller led the Pioneers with 19 points and seven rebounds.  Harlan finished with 10 points.  Rasmussen scored six points.

Irby led the Cardinals with 15 points. Hudgins and Rawlings finished with 13 points apiece.

The Pioneers will travel to Wilmington College this Saturday (Feb. 7) at they will have a men's/women's doubleheader.  The women's matchup with the Fightin' Quakers is scheduled for a 3 p.m. tipoff, following the men's scheduled start time at 1 p.m. 

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 X and Instagram