(COLUMBUS, Ohio) - A 15-0 Otterbein College run in the first half proved to be too much for Capital University's women's basketball team, who lost 77-69 Saturday to the rival Cardinals in The Capital Center.
Otterbein went on its run in the first 5:14 of the game to take a 15-4 lead. A 7-0 spurt later in the half, capped off by a 3-pointer from Katy Miller, gave the Cardinals their biggest lead of the game at 32-16 with 5:25 to go before halftime. The Crusaders responded, and a 3-pointer from freshman Tara Harper (Dresden/Tri-Valley) and a layup by junior forward Caitlin Elsass (Batavia/Clermont Northeastern) brought Capital to within five at 34-29. But Otterbein's Laura Roth answered with a three before the break to put the Cardinals back up by eight points.
A 10-2 Otterbein spurt gave the Cardinals a 50-35 lead with 13:47 to go. Capital cut it to six on a pair of occasions, the last at the 6:50 mark, but the Crusaders could not get any closer down the stretch.
Elsass led the Crusaders with 21 points and eight rebounds, while junior guard Heather McAlpin (Cincinnati/Colerain) scored 15 points to go along with seven rebounds, hitting 11-of-13 free throws. Roth scored a game-high 24 points, Ana Gamble added 18, and Miller had 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Capital converted on just 16-of-27 free throws as a team and surrendered 15 offensive rebounds to the Cardinals. Otterbein hit 9-of-15 three-pointers while Capital made just 3-of-15.
Otterbein improved to 8-8 (4-5 OAC), while Capital fell to 10-5 (5-4 OAC). The Crusaders will look to stop their three-game losing skid with their non-conference finale at 7:30 p.m. Monday against Wittenberg University in The Capital Center.