Otterbein Narrowly Escapes Tiffin With Victory Over Women's Basketball

A lay up from Heideberg College's Maureen Hunter (Toledo, Ohio / Notre Dame) with 28 seconds left in regulation gave the Berg its first lead over visiting Otterbein College since the 13:08 mark of the opening stanza, but the one-point advantage would fall in favor of the Cardinals following two free throw shots from Sarah Esterkamp with six seconds on the clock. When the final horn sounded Otterbein escaped Seiberling Gymnasium with a 64-63 Ohio Athletic Conference victory. The win improves the Cardinals to 8-5 overall and 4-2 in the OAC while the Berg falls to 8-5 overall and 1-5 in league action.

Hunter led the Berg with a career-high 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field. Hunter and Amanda Campbell (Pataskala, Ohio / Watkins Memorial) each pulled down a team-high seven rebounds. Brittany Skolnicki (Lorain, Ohio / Clearview) and Campbell rounded out three in double figures with 15 and 12 points, respectively.

Otterbein got on the scoreboard first following a Sara Fee jumper, but back-to-back three-pointers from Campbell and Kyle Davison (Ravenna, Ohio / Hudson) gave the Berg a 6-2 advantage. Otterbein went on a 12-2 run to take the lead 14-8 with 14:17 left in the opening half. Skolnicki and Hunter each hit one from long range to swing the lead in favor of Heidelberg, 15-14, but the Cardinals responded with a 16-2 run to push its lead to double digits for the second time in the contest.

Heidelberg did not back down and pulled within six points, 32-26, before Otterbein went on to outscore the Berg 7-2 over the final 3:23 of the first half.

The Berg pulled within two points, 55-53, following a Skolinicki jumper at the 6:34 mark of the second half, but Otterbein responded on its ensuing possession to push the lead back to four points. Heidelebrg cut the Cardinals lead to one on three occasions, but Otterbein responded to hold onto the lead until Hunter’s lay up gave the Berg a one-point advantage.