#5 Women's Basketball holds off Otterbein 61-57 to keep undefeated season intact

By Tim Glon

WESTERVILLE — No. 5-ranked Ohio Northern survived a late rally from Otterbein to remain undefeated on the season with a 61-59 women's basketball victory on Wednesday night at the Rike Center.

The Polar Bears improve to 24-0 overall and are 17-0 in Ohio Athletic Conference play, while the Cardinals fall to 10-14, 6-11.

Northern took a 59-51 lead with 2:10 to play in the game after a basket by junior Courtney Cramer (Arcadia).

But the Cardinals would score the game's next six points to pull within 59-57 with 27 second to go.

Senior Britt Lauck (Lima/Shawnee) made one of two free throws with 12 seconds left to put ONU up 60-57.

OU missed a 3-pointer with eight seconds left and sophomore Jenna Dirksen (Beavercreek/Carroll) made one of two free throws with three seconds left to ice the game.

Junior Amy Bullimore (Morrow/Little Miami) had a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds and Cramer scored 15 points to lead Ohio Northern.

Otterbein was led by Kiersten Taylor with 19 points.

The Polar Bears made 23-of-51 field goal attempts for 45.1 percent and were 3-of-10 from 3-point range for 30 percent.

The Cardinals were 20-of-61 from the floor for 32.8 percent and were 4-of-27 from beyond the arc for 14.8 percent.

Ohio Northern out-rebounded Otterbein 36-34.

The Polar Bears will look to complete their first undefeated regular season in school history on Saturday with a 3 pm contest against Marietta on Senior Day at the ONU Sports Center.