WILMINGTON — Otterbein University edged the Wilmington College women’s basketball team 65-57 in an Ohio Athletic Conference game Wednesday at Fred Raizk Arena.
Wilmington had the rebounding edge and made 24 of 33 free throws, but made just 16 of 57 from the field.
Zahrya Bailey led WC with 13 points while Kennedy Lewis had 10 points and nine boards. JaKaia Lotz played perhaps her best collegiate game, scoring 10 points and grabbing eight rebounds with four steals.
Wilmington (13-11, 7-10 OAC) closes out the regular season against John Carroll 4 p.m. Saturday. It will be Senior Day at WC.
The Cardinals took an early leads as the visitors shot 9-of-18 in the first quarter and ended the period with a baseline three-pointer from Maizie King to lead 22-13 after 10 minutes. The Quakers seemed to settle down defensively as the game went on and began to chip away at the deficit. A Kyria Walker three-pointer, which proved to be the host’s only long-distance make of the game, opened the quarter and WC pulled within a possession on four straight points from Jada Pohlen to make the score 24-22 with 3:40 to play. Otterbein, which was held to just four points in the entire quarter, held on for a 26-22 lead at the intermission.
The third quarter took the longest in actual time as Otterbein committed 11 fouls which results in Wilmington going 11-of-17 from the charity stripe. The Quakers took a 41-39 lead on a Cassidy Lovett free throw, but a Jenna Hoschouer basket sent the two sides to their respective benches tied 41-41.
The visitors scored a quick six points in 90 seconds to open the fourth quarter, forcing a timeout from WC head coach Janel Blankespoor. The Quakers responded by scoring four straight points and had multiple possessions to tie or take the lead, but couldn’t. Katie McCrary iced the game with seven free throws in the final minutes.
