(ADA, Ohio)---Capital University's women's basketball team saw its four-game winning streak come to an end with a 53-41 Ohio Athletic Conference loss Saturday against Ohio Northern in Ada, Ohio.
Capital falls to 15-8 overall and 9-7 in conference play, while Ohio Northern improves to 17-6 and 12-4 in the OAC.
Sophomore Kristen Richardson (Oxford/Talawanda) tallied 10 points as Capital's leading scorer, and senior Tiffany Withers (Pickerington/Pickerington Central) contributed nine points in the loss.
For the Polar Bears, Erin Brand and Jenny Markle led in scoring with 18 and 11 points respectively. Brand totaled 11 rebounds to go with her 18 points, and Markle connected on three treys.
Capital led for much of the first half, and a lay-up from freshman Lindsay Watt (Westerville/Westerville North) at the 6:59 mark in the first half pushed the Crusader lead out to its largest of the half, 14-5. Ohio Northern put together a 14-8 run during the final seven minutes of the first half to get to within three, 22-19, heading into the locker room.
Starting at the 16:02 mark, Ohio Northern went on a 14-2 run to jump ahead by 12 after the score was tied at 28. The Crusaders would go on a quick 5-0 run to inch within seven at 42-35, but they would get no closer as Ohio Northern claimed the 53-41 victory.
Capital held Ohio Northern to just 34 percent shooting but missed eight of its 14 free throws and was out-rebounded 44-33.
Capital will continue its season-ending three-game road trip at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday when the Crusaders will take on Heidelberg College in Tiffin, Ohio.