(COLUMBUS, Ohio)---After trailing by as many as 12 points in the first half, Capital University's women's basketball team battled back but came out on the losing end of a defensive battle, 51-48, against Ohio Northern University in an Ohio Athletic Conference game Saturday at The Capital Center.
With the loss, Capital's 17-game home winning streak comes to an end and it falls to 10-3 (5-2 OAC) on the season. Ohio Northern's victory keeps them tied at the top of the OAC with Baldwin-Wallace at 6-1 in conference play, 11-3 overall.
Ohio Northern began the game on a 21-9 run in the opening 12:28 of play aided by six Crusader turnovers and eight points in the paint from Erin Brand. Sophomore guard Kristen Richardson (Oxford/Talawanda) scored six straight points following the Polar Bear run to bring Capital to within six with 5:08 remaning in the first half. Ohio Northern would push the lead back out to a 25-16 margin, but Capital finished the half strong behind back-to-back three-pointers from junior guard Heather McAlpin (Cincinnati/Colerain) to go into the locker room down 27-22.
The two teams traded baskets back and forth in the opening minutes of the second half, but a strong Crusader push and a lay-up by sophomore Chelsea Ruoff (Grove City/Grove City) helped Capital grab its first lead of the ballgame at the 11:07 mark in the second half. Capital held onto the lead for the next five minutes, but the only two points from Ohio Northern's Tricia Fuller put the Polar Bears back up 41-39 with 6:23 remaining. Ohio Northern finished the game on a 7-0 run in the final 1:18 of play, including a three-pointer by Jenny Markle that put the Polar Bears up 49-48. Ohio Northern would hold on to secure the 51-48 victory after Capital could not get the potential game-tying shot off before the end of regulation.
For the game, the Crusaders were plus nine in the turnover margin but were outrebounded in the game 36-29 for only the second time this season.
Richardson led the way for Capital with 14 points. McAlpin turned in a solid game as well with 12 points, four rebounds, and four assists, and junior Caitlin Elsass (Batavia/Clermont Northeastern) just missed a double-double with 10 points and nine boards.
Ohio Northern's Brand led all scorers with 21 points, and the other double-digit scorer for the Polar Bears was Markle who had 11.
Capital continues its six-game home stand at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday when they will take on the Student Princes of Heidelberg College at The Capital Center.