Women’s Basketball slips past Otterbein 51-50
By Bud Denega
WESTERVILLE — Freshman Brynn Serbin (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) played well past her years late in Ohio Northern's game against Otterbein Wednesday night. She tallied the final five points, as the Polar Bears eeked past the Cardinals 51-50.
The victory improved Northern to 12-4 on the season and 6-3 in Ohio Athletic Conference play. The loss dropped Otterbein to 9-7 overall and 4-5 in conference action.
The game was knotted at 39-39 ahead of the fourth quarter. Sophomore Alissa Stahler (Lima/Shawnee) scored a couple baskets and her free throw at the 4:40 mark gave the Polar Bears a 46-45 advantage.
Hailey Bauer put the Cardinals out in front with two free throws before Serbin buried a 3-pointer with 2:46 left that vaulted ONU ahead 49-47. Serbin connected on a couple free throws at the 1:11 mark, making it 51-48.
Jenna Hoschouer earned a bucket with 46 seconds to play to pull Otterbein back to within one. Angelina Jackson had two looks from 3-point land with under 10 seconds to play, but neither found the bottom of the net.
Serbin finished with 12 points, four rebounds and two steals. Senior Emily Mescher (Maria Stein/Marion Local) paced the Polar Bears with 14 points, while fellow senior Abby Weeks (West Chester/Mount Notre Dame) chipped in 10 points.
ONU shot 36.5 percent (19 of 52) from the floor, which included making 23.5 percent (4 of 17) from beyond the 3-point line. Otterbein connected on 39 percent (16 of 41) of its field-goal attempts and 35.3 percent (6 of 17) of it shots from 3-point land.
The Polar Bears won the rebounding battle 29-23 and held a 15-9 advantage on the offensive glass.
Otterbein led 16-15 after one quarter of play before ONU outscored the Cardinals 17-11 in the second period to take a 32-27 halftime lead.
The Polar Bears return home, hosting Capital Saturday at 3 p.m. The Crusaders won the first meeting 53-38, Dec. 14 in Columbus.