Fee, who averaged 11.6 points and  4.7 rebounds a game, ranked second in the OAC in field-goal percentage (60.0), seventh in assists (2.8/game) and eighth in free-throw percentage (77.8).

Both players hit the career 1,000-point mark this season.

Cards Fall in OAC Quarterfinals
Written Feb. 27, 2008 by Brett Rybak

WESTERVILLE, OHIO—The #5 seed Capital Crusaders used solid defense and double-digit scoring from four players to top #4 seed Otterbein, 72-66, in Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Tournament quarterfinal action Wednesday night in the Rike Center.

Laura Roth, a junior guard from Cincinnati (Mother of Mercy High School), led the Cards with 18 points, including 5 of 9 from three-point land, while Katy Miller, a sophomore forward from Delaware (Rutherford B. Hayes), tallied 11 points and 11 rebounds, marking her ninth double-double of the season.

After both teams started out hot from the field, Capital was able to use a 17-8 run, including seven points from Kristen Richardson, a sophomore guard from Oxford (Talawanda), to take a 35-25 lead with 5:24 left in the first half. The Crusaders shot 51.7 percent from the field in the half, 4 of 7 from behind the three-point line, to take a 39-31 lead into the locker room.

The Cards cut the lead to 45-40 with 13:35 left in the game before Capital used an old-fashioned three-point play by Caitlin Elsass, a junior forward from Batavia (Clermont Northeastern), and a three-pointer from the left corner by Chelsea Ruoff, a sophomore guard from Grove City, to push the lead up to 11. Otterbein would answer back with a 9-2 run, including eight points from Laura Roth, to cut the Crusader lead to three, but that would be as close as the Cards would get as Capital hit 15 of 18 free-throws over the final 5:23 to seal the victory.

After hitting the game-winner in Saturday’s win over Capital, Sara Fee, a senior guard from Bryan, added 15 points, five rebounds, and four assists in her final game at Otterbein.

Richardson led the Crusaders with 20 points. Ruoff chipped in 17 points while Elsass added 13 points, including a perfect 7 of 7 from the free-throw line. The game was decided at the line where Capital shot 80.8 percent compared to the Cards’ 61.1 percent.

WESTERVILLE, OHIO—Sara Fee, a senior guard from Bryan, was named Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) “player of the week” in women’s basketball, the OAC released Monday.

Fee collected 26 points, 14 rebounds and six assists in wins over Wilmington and Capital last week.

The senior guard banked in a three-pointer from half court as time expired to lift Otterbein to a 63-62 win over Capital last Saturday in Westerville. Fee tallied 13 points and eight rebounds in the win over Capital, which followed a 13 point, six rebound performance in a 93-87 win over Wilmington last Wednesday in the Rike Center.

On the week, Fee made 10 of 12 from the field, 4 of 6 from the free-throw line, and both of her shot attempts from beyond the three-point arc.

Cards Open OAC Tourney with Capital
Written Feb. 24, 2008 by Steve Cawley

WESTERVILLE, OHIO—Otterbein seeks its third-straight win over Capital this season as the Cardinals welcome the Crusaders to the Rike Center for the second time in five days, 7:30 p.m., Wednesday in a quarterfinal game of the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Tournament.

The Cardinals nipped the Crusaders, 63-62, at the buzzer on a banked three-pointer from half court as time expired Saturday in the Rike Center. The victory gave Otterbein (14-11, 10-8) the #4 seed in the OAC Tournament—after winning a three-way tiebreaker with Capital and John Carroll—and the right to host Capital (16-9, 10-8) in Tuesday’s first-round game.

Capital, under 22nd-year head coach Dixie Jeffers, enters tonight as the #5 seed. Otterbein, under 17th-year head coach Connie Richardson, swept the regular-season series against the Crusaders.

On Saturday, Capital hit one of two free throws with three seconds to play to give the Crusaders a two-point advantage, 62-60. Otterbein inbounded the ball to Sara Fee, a senior guard from Bryan, who took a couple of dribbles and banked in a bomb from just in front of half-court to give the Cards the victory.

Katy Miller, a sophomore post from Delaware (Hayes High School), led four Cardinals in double figures, recording a double-double, 14 points and 14 rebounds. Fee chipped in 13 points and eight rebounds. Karli Volkmer, a sophomore guard from Galion (Colonel Crawford), added 12 points and seven assists and Laura Roth, a junior guard from Cincinnati (Mother of Mercy), contributed 11 points.

Kristen Richardson, a sophomore guard from Oxford (Talawanda High School), led Capital with 30 points.

The Cardinals won the first meeting of the season against Capital, 77-69, Jan. 19 at the Capital Center. The Crusaders jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first minute of the game before Otterbein took over, going on a 15-0 run that started and ended with Roth, hitting three-pointers on her way to 19 first-half points. Roth led four Cardinals with 24 points.

Roth led the OAC in scoring during the regular season, averaging 17.3 a game, and assists 4.76 a game; and tied for second in steals (2.16 a game) and in three-point field-goals made (2.64 a game); ranked third in free-throw percentage (85 of 102 for 83.3 percent) and eighth in three-point field-goal percentage (66 of 175 for 37.7 percent).

Capital’s Richardson finished fifth in scoring in the conference (15.0 a game) and tied for second in steals (2.16 a game).

The winner of tonight’s quarterfinal faces the winner of the Heidelberg (#8 seed) vs. Baldwin-Wallace (#1 seed) matchup Thursday in the OAC Tournament semifinals. The game will be played at the highest remaining seed. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

Cards Knock off Capital on Fee's Buzzer-Beater
Written Feb. 23, 2008 by Brett Rybak

WESTERVILLE, OHIO—The Otterbein Cardinals nipped cross-town rival Capital, 63-62, at the buzzer on a made three-pointer from half court as time expired Saturday in the Rike Center.

With three seconds to play, and Otterbein trailing, 62-60, Sara Fee, a senior from Bryan, took the inbounds pass and banked in a bomb from just in front of half-court to give the Cards the victory.

“I would have to rank that as one of the best finishes at Otterbein,” said Otterbein head coach Connie Richardson. “Of all of the kids to hit it, I couldn’t be happier for Sara Fee. She is one that never quits and to have the ball in her hands at the end was a bonus for us.”

The Crusaders lead early, 10-9, at the 15:28 mark of the first half before Otterbein rallied with a 21-4 run over the next 7:49 to pull ahead 30-14. The Cards took a 13-point lead, 40-27, into halftime.

Capital opened the second period with a 17-9 run as the Cards went cold from the field, going scoreless for 5:33 during that stretch. Otterbein held onto the lead, however, until Capital’s Kristen Richardson, a sophomore guard from Oxford (Talawanda High School), drove the left baseline and connected on a lay-up and a free throw to tie the game at 58 with 2:16 to play. 

The two teams traded baskets and the score remained tied at 60 with 1:17 to play. Heather McAlpin, a junior guard from Cincinnati (Colerain), connected on 2 of 4 free throws over the final 16 seconds to put Capital on top, 62-60, before Fee’s made three-pointer at the end of the game.

Katy Miller, a sophomore forward from Delaware (Rutherford B. Hayes), led four Otterbein starters in double-figures with 14 points and 14 rebounds, marking her eighth double-double of the season. Fee tallied 13 points and eight rebounds while Karli Volkmer, a sophomore guard from Galion (Colonel Crawford), added 12. Laura Roth, a junior guard from Cincinnati (Mother of Mercy), scored 11 points.

Richardson led Capital with 30 points on 12-of-25 shooting. McAlpin added 13 points and seven rebounds for the Crusaders.

With the win, the Cardinals earned the #4 seed in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Tournament and will host the #5 seed Crusaders Tuesday night in Westerville. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.

Cards Host Capital to Close Out the Regular Season
Written Feb. 21, 2008 by Steve Cawley

WESTERVILLE, OHIO—Otterbein, coming off an upset win over Wilmington, who had been sitting second in the OAC, seeks to sweep the season series against cross-town rival Capital in the regular-season finale, 5:30 p.m., Saturday in an Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) battle at the Rike Center.

It’s been a season of streaks for the Cardinals (13-11). In February, they won four in row after losing three in a row to end January, and, on Wednesday, snapped a two-game losing streak. The Cards, under 17th-year head coach Connie Richardson, got double-digit scoring from four starters to turn back Wilmington, 93-87, to move back over the .500 mark (9-8) and into sixth place in conference play.

Capital (16-8, 10-7) outscored Heidelberg, 34-17, in the second half to get a 59-45 OAC win Wednesday in Tiffin. The Crusaders sit in a tie with John Carroll for fourth place in the OAC standings. Both Otterbein and Capital look to gain momentum and fight for seeding as they prepare for the OAC Tournament, which is scheduled to begin Tuesday.

Wednesday in the Rike, The Quakers ran the score to 81-69 at the 9:21 mark of the second half before the Cardinals went on a 10-0 run over the next 3:46 to cut the lead to two. The game stayed close until Otterbein took the lead for good, 86-85, when Laura Roth, a junior guard from Cincinnati (Mother of Mercy High School), hit a three-pointer with 3:03 left in the game. The Cards hit 5 of 6 free throws—four coming from Roth—down the stretch to close it out.

Roth continued to have the hot hand and led the Cardinals with 29 points, including a perfect 11 of 11 from the free-throw line. Karli Volkmer, a sophomore guard from Galion (Colonel Crawford), chipped in 18 points while Sara Fee, a senior guard from Bryan, added 17 points and eight rebounds.

Capital, under 22nd-year head coach Dixie Jeffers, opened the second half on a decisive 11-3 run for a 36-31 lead over Heidelberg Wednesday. They never trailed again, stretching the margin to 17 before settling for the 14-point victory. Heather McAlpin, a junior guard from Cincinnati (Colerain), led the Crusaders with 15 points and 13 rebounds.

Entering midweek, Otterbein’s Roth led the OAC in scoring, averaging 17.6 a game, and assists, 4.79 a game; and ranked second in steals (2.17 a game), second in three-point field-goals made (2.71 a game), third in free-throw percentage (83 of 100 for 83.0 percent) and third in three-point field-goal percentage (65 of 167 for 38.9 percent).

Capital’s Kristen Richardson, a sophomore guard from Oxford (Talawanda), ranked sixth in scoring in the conference (14.3 a game) and fourth in steals (2.08 a game).

Cards Edge Wilmington
Written Feb. 20, 2008 by Brett Rybak

WESTERVILLE, OHIO—Otterbein, getting double-digit scoring from four starters, turned back Wilmington, 93-87, Wednesday night in Westerville.

With the win, the Cardinals move back over the .500 mark, 9-8, in Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) play and 13-11 overall. The Quakers fall to 18-6, 12-5 in league play.

Laura Roth, a junior guard from Cincinnati (Mother of Mercy High School), led the Cardinals with 29 points, including a perfect 11 of 11 from the free-throw line. Karli Volkmer, a sophomore guard from Galion (Colonel Crawford), chipped in 18 points while Sara Fee, a senior guard from Bryan, added 17 points and eight rebounds.

After Wilmington jumped out to a 21-8 lead at the 15:58 mark of the first half, the Cardinals went on a 13-3 run over the next 3:16 to cut the lead to three. The Quakers fought back with a 13-5 run of their own to boost their lead to eleven with 10:02 left in the half. Otterbein was able to outscore Wilmington 23-15 over the final ten minutes to cut the Quakers' advantage to 52-49 at the half.

The Quakers ran the score to 81-69 at the 9:21 mark of the second half before the Cardinals went on a 10-0 run over the next 3:46 to cut the lead to two. The game stayed close until Otterbein took the lead for good, 86-85, when Roth hit a three-pointer with 3:03 left in the game. The Cards hit 5 of 6 free throws—four coming from Roth—down the stretch to close it out.

Wilmington placed four players in double-figures with Katie Streck, a senior forward from Dayton (Carroll), leading the way with 21. Gina Hyle, a senior forward from Lawrenceburg, In. (McAuley), added 16 points and eight rebounds for the Quakers.

Otterbein will host cross-town Capital Saturday at 5:30 p.m. to close out regular-season play while the Quakers host John Carroll at 3 p.m.

Cards to Host Wilmington
Written Feb. 19, 2008 by Steve Cawley

WESTERVILLE, OHIO—Otterbein, after losing two in a row, looks to get back on the upswing as they square off against the Quakers of Wilmington, 7:30 p.m., Wednesday in the Rike Center.  

It’s been a roller coaster ride for the Cardinals throughout February. After winning four straight to start the month, Otterbein dropped its last two contests, including an 83-74 loss to Heidelberg on Saturday. The loss dropped Otterbein (12-11), under 17th-year head coach Connie Richardson, to 8-8 in the league, sixth place. Wilmington (18-5, 12-4) overcame a slow start against Mount Union Saturday and beat the Purple Raiders, 69-56. They sit in a tie for second place in the OAC standings with Ohio Northern. 

Heidelberg went on a 7-0 run to close out the first half to grab a 51-44 lead on Saturday; it was a lead they would never relinquish. The Cardinals, who were playing without Ana Gamble, a senior forward from Pickerington (North), cut the lead to two several times in the second half, the final one coming on a Laura Roth, a junior guard from Cincinnati (Mother of Mercy), three-pointer at the 4:16 mark.

Roth tied the school record with eight made three-pointers in a single game and led the Cardinals with 30 points, tying her career high, and seven assists. Sara Fee, a senior guard from Bryan, scored her 1,000th-career point, adding 17 points for the game.

Wilmington, under 18th-year head coach Jerry Scheve, went on a 13-4 run midway through the first half against Mount Union Saturday to take the lead for good, 27-19. Marianne McGoron, a sophomore guard from Hamilton (Fenwick), paced the Quakers with 19 points. Gina Hyle, a senior forward from Lawrenceburg, IN (McAuley), recorded a double-double with 16 points, 10 rebounds.

Entering the week, Otterbein’s Roth led the OAC in scoring (17.1 a game), assists (4.78 a game) and steals (2.22 a game); and ranked second in three-point field-goals made (2.65 a game), fifth in free-throw percentage (72 of 89 for 80.9 percent) and sixth in three-point field-goal percentage (61 of 161 for 37.9 percent).

Fee ranked second in the conference in field-goal percentage (99 of 167 for 59.3 percent), tied for seventh in assists (2.70 a game) and ranked ninth in free-throw percentage (55 of 71 for 77.5 percent).

Wilmington’s Katie Streck, a senior post from Dayton (Carroll), led the conference in free-throw percentage, making 81 of 88 free throws for 92.0 percent; and ranked third in scoring (15.7 a game) and fourth in field-goal percentage (132 of  251 for 52.6 percent).

Otterbein dropped the first contest to Wilmington, 73-62, Jan. 16 in Wilmington. Wilmington jumped out to an early lead with a 10-0 run to start the game and the Cardinals never recovered, trailing by as many as 24 points. Roth led the Cards with 15 points.

Otterbein hosts cross-town rival Capital in the regular-season finale on Saturday with tip-off set for 5:30 p.m. Wilmington hosts John Carroll on Saturday.

Sara Fee Hits the 1000-Point Mark
Written Feb. 18, 2008 by Brett Rybak

WESTERVILLE, OHIO – After a season best four-game winning streak, Otterbein dropped their second-straight game, 83-74, to Heidelberg Saturday afternoon in Westerville.

Sara Fee, a senior guard from Bryan (Bryan High School), became the 12th player in Otterbein women’s basketball history and second this season to surpass the 1,000-point barrier with 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting. Laura Roth, a junior guard from Cincinnati (Mother of Mercy), led the Cardinals with a career-high 30 points, tying the school record with eight three-pointers in the game. Roth reached 1,000 career points on Jan. 26 in a 73-70 loss at John Carroll.

“Sara reaching 1,000 points is a testament to the work ethic and commitment she has made to the game and this program. It is quite an accomplishment considering she has never been the leading scorer on the team,” said Otterbein head coach Connie Richardson. “I wish more people would understand what she has done in her four years at Otterbein as a student-athlete.”

Heidelberg took a six-point lead with 6:26 left in the first half before Otterbein went on a 10-2 run over the next 4:04 to take a two-point lead. The Cards’ advantage was short-lived as Heidelberg went on a 9-0 run to take a 51-44 lead into the half. Otterbein shot 58.1 percent from the field including 45.5 percent from three-point land in the first half. Roth and Fee combined for 24 of Otterbein’s 44 points before the intermission.

Trailing 62-56, Fee was fouled on a made jumper with 6:59 left in the second half to top the 1,000-point mark. She made the free-throw, cutting the Heidelberg lead to three. Two minutes later, Roth hit a three-pointer to make the score, 66-64, but Heidelberg went on a 13-5 run over the next 3:24 to seal the win.

Otterbein’s Karli Volkmer, a sophomore guard from Galion (Colonel Crawford), added 15 points and five assists while Katy Miller, a sophomore forward from Delaware (Rutherford B. Hayes), grabbed 11 rebounds.

Heidelberg placed six players in double-figure scoring. Amanda Campbell, a senior guard from Pataskala (Watkins Memorial), led The Berg with 18 points while Jenny Miller, a freshman forward from Tiffin (Clyde), chipped in 15.

With the win, Heidelberg improved to 10-13 overall and 5-11 in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC).  Otterbein dropped to 12-11 overall and 8-8 in OAC play.

After losing four of six in January, the Cardinals (12-10, 8-7) hit their stride, winning every game in February before traveling to Berea and losing to the league-leading Yellow Jackets, 81-56, Wednesday.  Otterbein, under 17th-year head coach Connie Richardson, sits in sixth place in the OAC.

Heidelberg (9-13, 4-11), meanwhile, could not overcome John Carroll’s hot shooting in the second half Wednesday and lost 76-72. The Berg sits in eighth place in the conference standings. 

Baldwin-Wallace raced out of the gate with an 11-0 run to start the game. Sara Fee, a senior guard from Bryan, hit a three-pointer at the 12:52 mark of the first half to cut the lead to four, 14-10, but the Yellow Jackets quickly responded and built the lead back to 17 by half. Laura Roth, a junior guard from Cincinnati (Mother of Mercy High School), paced Otterbein with 16 points, including four three-pointers.

Heidelberg, under 20th-year head coach Karen McConnell, led the Blue Streak by as many as 12 in the first half, but relinquished the lead for good with 2:15 left in the first half. Amanda Campbell, a senior guard from Pataskala (Watkins Memorial), scored 19 points and snared six rebounds to pace Heidelberg.

Entering midweek, Otterbein’s Roth led the OAC in assists, averaging 4.68 a game, and steals, averaging 2.27 a game; and ranked second in scoring (16.5 a game), fifth in free-throw percentage (68 of 84 for 81.0 percent), fourth in three-point field-goals made (2.41 a game) and 10th in three-point field-goal percentage (53 of 147 for 36.1 percent).

The Cardinals’ Katy Miller, a sophomore forward from Delaware (Hayes), ranked second in the league in rebounding (8.9 a game), and eighth in blocked shots (0.73 a game).

Heidelberg’s Campbell ranked seventh in rebounding (7.2 a game) in the OAC, sixth in free-throw percentage (69-86 for 80.2 percent), eighth in steals (1.86 a game) and 10th in three-point field-goals made (1.55 a game).

Otterbein dropped the first battle to Heidelberg, 58-43, Jan. 12 in Tiffin. Heidelberg started the game with a 10-0 run and the Cardinals never recovered, shooting below 35 percent for the entire game. Ana Gamble, a senior guard from Pickerington (Pickerington North), led the Cards with 15 points.

Roth Named OAC Player of the Week
Written Feb. 12, 2008 by Ed Syguda

WESTERVILLE, OHIO—Laura Roth, a junior guard from Cincinnati (Mother of Mercy High School), was named Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) “player of the week” in women’s basketball, the OAC released Monday. This marks the second time this season that Roth has received the award.

Roth collected 37 points, 11 assists and five steals over two OAC wins against Ohio Northern and Mount Union last week.

She scored 22 points in a 77-65 upset win over Ohio Northern last Wednesday in Ada, then collected 15 points and eight assists in an 85-79 decision over Mount Union Saturday in Westerville.

With the wins, Otterbein, 12-9 overall, moved into a three-way tie with Capital and John Carroll for fourth place, each 8-6 in the OAC.

Cards Extend Win Streak to Four with Win over Mount
Written Feb. 9, 2008 by Ed Syguda

Coach Richardson showing her support for the WBCA "Think Pink" campaign.

WESTERVILLE, OHIO—Otterbein, getting double-digit scoring from all five starters, won its fourth straight, turning back Mount Union, 85-79, Saturday in the Rike Center.

The Cardinals, 12-9 overall, improved to 8-6 in Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) play and have won five of their last six games, building a little momentum ahead of their showdown against league-leading Baldwin-Wallace Wednesday in Berea. The Yellow Jackets knocked off Wilmington, 71-55, today to move to 19-2 overall and 12-2 in the OAC.

“Any kind of momentum you can obtain going into a game up in Berea is always a plus,” said Otterbein head coach Connie Richardson, whose team wore pink warm-up jerseys today, taking part in a nation-wide “Think Pink” campaign sponsored by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association to raise awareness of breast cancer.

The game was close throughout—the Cardinals leading by just two at the half, 44-42—until Otterbein broke a 67-67 tie with a 6-0 run to take the lead for good, 73-67, with 4:11 to play in the game. Mount Union pulled to within two, trailing, 77-75, with 1:57 remaining, but the Cardinals made 8 of 10 free throws down the stretch to hold off the Purple Raiders, who dropped to 8-13 overall and 5-9 in the OAC.

Katy Miller, a sophomore forward from Delaware (Rutherford B. Hayes High School), led the Otterbein attack, notching her seventh double-double of the season with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Miller made 7 of 8 shots from the field and hit 4 of 5 from the free-throw line. Ana Gamble, a senior guard from Pickerington (North), tallied 16 points, four assists and four rebounds. Laura Roth, a junior point guard from Cincinnati (Mother of Mercy), added 15 points and eight assists.

Alicia Williams, a senior center from Parma (Holy Name), collected 16 points and 14 rebounds to lead Mount Union. Katie Crider, a freshman guard from Brunswick, came off the bench and scored 16.

Fee Earns First Team Academic All-District Honors
Written Feb. 8, 2008 by Ed Syguda

WESTERVILLE, OHIO—Sara Fee, a senior from Bryan, Ohio, was named to the 2008 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV first team in women’s basketball as selected by the College Sports Information Director’s of America (CoSIDA), released Thursday by CoSIDA.

Fee, who earned second team academic all-district honors as a sophomore and junior, is now eligible for Academic All-America consideration.

A three-year starter at guard, Fee is majoring in nursing and has made the Otterbein Dean’s List all 10 quarters.

Fee, who is averaging 11.2 points and 4.7 rebounds a game, has scored in double digits over the last four games. She has 967 points in her career. The senior guard ranks second in the Ohio Athletic Conference for shooting accuracy, making 86 of 145 field-goal attempts for 59.3 percent.

Academic All-District IV team members are selected through voting by CoSIDA, a 2,000-member organization consisting of sports public relations professionals for colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. District IV encompasses the states of Alabama, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee.

Cards Carry 3-Game Winning Streak into Mount Union Game
Written Feb. 7, 2008 by Steve Cawley

WESTERVILLE, OHIO—Otterbein seeks to keep the winning streak alive as they square off against the Mount Union Purple Raiders, 3 p.m., Saturday at the Rike Center in an Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) battle.  

The Cardinals (11-9, 7-6), winners of three straight under 17th-year head coach Connie Richardson, sit tied for fifth in the OAC and look for win number four in a row after knocking off Ohio Northern, 77-65, Wednesday in Ada. Mount Union (8-12, 5-8) faced a set back, losing to John Carroll, 61-51, Wednesday. They sit in seventh place in the conference standings. 

Laura Roth, a junior guard from Cincinnati (Mother of Mercy), hit a lay-up with 2:23 left in the first half to start an 8-2 run to close the half as the Cardinals built the lead to 12, 43-31. The closest the Polar Bears got was seven in the second half and the Cardinals pulled away for a 12-point victory.  

Roth paced Otterbein with 22 points, hitting three from behind the three-point line, and Sara Fee, a senior guard from Byran (Bryan), added 18 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Ana Gamble, a senior guard from Pickerington (Pickerington North), chipped in 11 points.

Mount Union, under fourth-year head coach Suzy Venet, cut the John Carroll lead to two, 44-42, at the 9:31 mark in the second half on a lay-up from Lauren Forquer, a freshman center from North Canton (Green), but the Purple Raiders were never able to regain the lead losing 61-51. Alicia Williams, a senior center from Parma (Holy Name), snared 12 rebounds and chipped in eight points.

Entering midweek, Otterbein’s Roth led the OAC in scoring, averaging 16.6 points a game, and assists, averaging 4.65 a game; and ranked second in steals (2.20 a game), sixth in free-throw percentage (64 of 80 for 80.0 percent), fourth in three-point field-goals made (2.30 a game) and ninth in three-point field-goal percentage (46 of 133 for 34.6 percent).

Fee ranked second in field-goal percentage (84 of 145 for 59.3 percent), eighth in assists (2.70 a game) and eighth in free-throw percentage (46 of 60 for 76.7 percent).

Mount Union’s Williams tied for fourth in the league in rebounding at 7.6 a game and ranked fifth in blocked shots at 0.95 a game.

The Cardinals cruised to an 18-point victory in the first matchup against the Purple Raiders, 65-47, on Dec.15 in Alliance. Mount Union cut the lead to eight early in the second half, but Karli Volkmer, a sophomore guard from Galion (Colonel Crawford), responded and hit a jumper to build the lead back to double digits. Volkmer led Otterbein with 23 points on 10-of-12 shooting.

Cards Turn Back Fighting Muskies
Written Feb. 2, 2008 by Ed Syguda

WESTERVILLE, OHIO—Otterbein, a winner in three of its last four games, extended its win streak to two with a convincing 90-79 win over visiting Muskingum Saturday in the Rike Center.

With the win, the Cardinals moved back over the .500 mark, 10-9 overall, and evened its Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) record to 5-5. Muskingum dropped to 8-10 overall and 3-9 in league play.

The Fighting Muskies opened the game red hot, scoring 10 of the game’s first 12 points. The Cardinals countered with a 24-14 run capped off by a three-pointer from guard Laura Roth, a junior from Cincinnati (Mother of Mercy High School), to knot the score at 26 with 8:24 to play in the first half.

The two teams traded baskets over the next three minutes before Otterbein took the lead for good, 48-38, with 1:19 to play in the half on a strong and balanced 16-5 run in which six different Cardinal players scored. Otterbein led, 48-42, at the half.

Otterbein maintained control throughout the second half, leading by as many as 18 points with 2:22 to play.

Roth led a group of five Cardinals scoring in double digits. The point guard, hitting 5 of 9 three-point attempts, finished with 24 points along with a career-high 13 assists. Ana Gamble, a senior guard from Pickerington (North), scored 18, all three-pointers as she made 6 of 11 from beyond the arc. Katy Miller, a sophomore forward from Delaware (Rutherford B. Hayes), picked up her sixth double-double of the season, tallying 10 points and 13 rebounds.

Others scoring in double digits for Otterbein were Karli Volkmer, a sophomore guard from Galion (Colonel Crawford), 16 points, and Sara Fee, a senior guard from Bryan, 14 points.

Cards to Host the Fighting Muskies
Written Jan. 31, 2008 by Steve Cawley

WESTERVILLE, OHIO—Otterbein looks to string two victories together as they host the Muskies of Muskingum in an Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) battle at the Rike Center, 3 p.m., Saturday.  

The Cardinals (9-9, 5-6), under 17th-year head coach Connie Richardson, sit tied for fifth in the OAC and look for brighter skies in February after a rocky January road. Otterbein finished the month 2-4, but cruised to a comfortable 84-64 victory over Marietta on Wednesday evening. Muskingum (8-9, 3-8), losers of two in a row, sit in ninth place in the conference and lost to John Carroll Wednesday, 67-55. 

Otterbein scored 18 unanswered points at the beginning of the second half against Marietta to increase their lead from a two-point margin to a 20-point lead. Katy Miller, a sophomore forward from Delaware (Hayes), started and ended the run with a lay-up and a jumper.

Sara Fee, a senior guard from Byran, paced Otterbein with 17 points, shooting 5 of 7 from the field and 7 of 8 from the free-throw stripe, six rebounds and five assists. Miller chipped in 16 points and Ana Gamble, a senior guard from Pickerington (Pickerington North), went 3 of 6 from three-point range and added 10 points.

Muskingum, under fourth-year head coach Beth Fox, went on a 12-2 run midway through the second half to cut John Carroll’s lead to five, 56-51, on Wednesday. The final push would not be enough, however, as John Carroll outscored the Muskies 11-4 to end the game, sealing the win, 67-55. Jessica McKenzie, a junior post from Hopewell (West Muskingum), led the Muskies with 17 points and 12 rebounds to record a double-double.

Entering midweek, Otterbein’s Laura Roth, a junior guard from Cincinnati (Mother of Mercy), tied for the league lead in steals, averaging 2.28 a game; and ranked third in scoring (15.9 points a game), second in assists (4.28 a game), seventh in free-throw percentage (54 of 69 for 78.3 percent) and fourth in three-point field goals made (2.11 a game).

Gamble ranked ninth in the league in scoring (13.4 points a game), tied for seventh in steals (1.83 a game), 10th in three-point field-goal percentage (42 of 122 for 34.4 percent) and third in three-point field goals made (2.33 a game). 

Muskingum’s McKenzie led the OAC in rebounding at 10.7 a game and in field-goal percentage, making 106 of 173 shots for 61.3 percent; and ranked fifth in scoring (15.4 points a game), eighth in assists (2.76 a game) and fourth in blocked shots (1.06 a game).

The Cardinals lost the first matchup against Muskingum, 87-81, Dec. 8 in New Concord. The Muskies took the lead late in the first half on a pair of free throws and never relinquished it. Karli Volkmer, a sophomore guard from Galion (Colonel Crawford), led Otterbein with 23 points on 10-of-13 shooting.

Cards Come up Short in University Heights
Written Jan. 26, 2008 by Ed Syguda

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, OHIO—Otterbein opened strong, carrying the momentum gained from last Saturday’s win over cross-town rival Capital, but faded late in the second half in a 73-70 loss at John Carroll Saturday.

Otterbein’s Karli Volkmer, a sophomore guard from Galion (Colonel Crawford High School), took the game’s last shot, missing a three-pointer from the Otterbein right baseline as time expired.

Guard Laura Roth, a junior from Cincinnati (Mother of Mercy), opened the Otterbein scoring with a three-pointer, sparking an Otterbein 24-11 run over the first eight minutes of the game. Roth, who finished with a game and career-high 30 points, scored 14 over that opening run, including four made three-pointers. The Cardinals led, 37-29, at the half.

Roth, again, opened the Otterbein scoring in the second half, hitting the first of two free-throw attempts for the 1,000th point of her career 33 seconds into the second period.

The Cardinals still led by six points, 54-48, with 10:50 remaining. That’s when the Blue Streaks got hot, mounting a 13-0 run to take the lead for good, 61-54, with 8:05 to play. The Cardinals closed to within one on a three-point basket from Ana Gamble, a senior guard from Pickerington (North), with 6:42 to go, but John Carroll was able to boost its lead back up to eight with 4:47 to play.

Otterbein fought back, pulling to within one point, 71-70, with 1:15 to play. The Blue Streaks made two of four free-throw attempts over the next minute, setting up Volkmer’s three-point attempt at the end of the game.

Otterbein’s Katy Miller, a sophomore forward from Delaware (Rutherford B. Hayes), finished with a career-high 21 rebounds (18 of them defensive), just two rebounds off the Otterbein school record of 23. Roth, who finished with 30 points, made 11 of 21 from the field, including 5 of 12 three-point field-goal attempts. Sara Fee, a senior guard from Bryan, tallied 15 points and eight rebounds. Gamble chipped in 13 points.

John Carroll placed three players in double-figure scoring. Caitlin Sureck, a sophomore forward from Medina (Walsh Jesuit), collected a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds.

With the win, John Carroll improved to 11-6 overall and 6-4 in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC). Otterbein dropped to 8-9 overall and 4-6 in OAC play.

The Cardinals, playing their last four games on the road, remain on the road, traveling to Marietta Wednesday for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off. John Carroll travels to Muskingum Wednesday.

Roth Sparks Cards to Crucial Win at Capital
Written Jan. 19, 2008 by Steve Cawley

Capital jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first minute of the game. The Cardinals took over from there going on a 15-0 run that started and ended with Laura Roth, a junior guard from Cincinnati (Mother of Mercy), hitting three-pointers on her way to 19 first-half points.

The Crusaders cut the lead to five, 34-29, on a lay-up by Caitlin Elsass, a junior forward from Batavia (Clermont Northeastern), with 0:33 left in the first half. Roth answered quickly with another three-pointer to close out the half and build the Cardinal lead back to eight, 37-29.

Roth continued the hot hand coming out of the locker room converting a lay-up and free throw for an old fashion three-point play and an 11-point lead. Capital continued to battle, but could never get closer than six with under a minute to go in the game. Otterbein hit 10 of 14 free throws in the final 2:23 to seal the victory.

Roth led four Cardinals in double figures with 24 points on 8-of-18 shooting from the field, including three three-pointers, and 5 of 5 from the foul stripe. Ana Gamble, a senior guard from Pickerington (Pickerington North), contributed 18 points, and Karli Volkmer, a sophomore guard from Galion (Colonel Crawford), added 11. Katy Miller, a sophomore forward from Delaware (Hayes), tallied 12 points and 12 rebounds. 

Elsass led Capital with 21 points going 9 of 13 from the field and snared eight rebounds. Heather McAlpin, a junior guard from Cincinnati (Colerain), added 15 points and seven rebounds.

Otterbein moves to 8-8 overall and 4-5 in the OAC with the victory. Capital falls to 10-5 overall and 5-4 in the OAC.  

Cards to Host Yellow Jackets in OAC Battle
Written Jan. 8, 2008 by Steve Cawley

WESTERVILLE, OHIO-Otterbein, winner of it’s third straight Smokey Ballenger Classic, hosts the Yellow Jackets of Baldwin-Wallace in Wednesday's Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) game.

Otterbein enters Wednesday's game sitting in fifth place (3-2) in the OAC while Baldwin-Wallace enters locked in a four-way tie for first place in conference play (4-1).

The Cardinals (7-5, 3-2), under 17^th-year head coach Connie Richardson, claimed the Smokey Ballenger Classic championship by defeating Saint Mary’s College (IN), 79-65, on Dec. 29. It was back and forth until late in the second half when Sara Fee, a senior guard from Byran (Bryan), was fouled sending her to the line with 4:22 to play and Otterbein leading 62-59. Fee hit both foul shots to start a 16-6 run to put the game away. 

Ana Gamble, a senior guard from Pickerington (Pickerington North), led the Cardinals with 20 points, making six of 15 shots from the field and seven of 12 from the foul line against Saint Mary’s. The previous night in the Smokey Ballenger Classic, Gamble scored 21 on seven of 13 shooting, including four of eight from beyond the 3-point line, in an 89-64 victory over Franklin College (IN). The senior guard, who was named to the all-tournament team, sits eighth in the OAC for scoring (13.9 points a game) third in 3-pointers made (2.25 a game) and eighth in steals (1.83).

Katy Miller, a sophomore forward from Delaware (Hayes), tallied 17 points and 10 rebounds, and was named the tournament’s most valuable player. Laura Roth, a junior guard from Cincinnati (Mother of Mercy), and Karli Volkmer, a sophomore guard from Galion (Colonel Crawford), each contributed 11 and 10 points, respectively.    

The Yellow Jackets (11-1, 4-1), under head coach Cheri Harrer, who is in her 18^th season at Baldwin-Wallace, won their sixth straight, defeating Heidelberg, 84-59, Friday, Jan. 4, at home in Berea.

Selena Eskinazi-Budge, a senior guard from Beachwood, led the Yellow Jackets in scoring with 15 points. Ariel Brough, a sophomore center from Powell (Olentangy Liberty) chipped in 12 points and Amanda Schroeder, a freshman forward from Columbus Grove, came off the bench to contribute 10.

Coming into the week, Otterbein’s Roth led the OAC in assists, averaging 5.0 a game, and steals, 2.83 an outing; and ranked fifth in scoring (15.1 points and game), eighth in free throw percentage (76.6) and sixth in 3-pointers made (1.92 a game).

Miller held down the second spot in rebounding, averaging 9.3 a contest, while Fee ranked second in field-goal percentage, making 48 of 80 attempts for 60 percent. Volkmer ranked 10^th in scoring (13.0 points a game) and sixth in field-goal percentage (54.8) making 63 of 115 shots.

Baldwin-Wallace’s Brough led the OAC in blocked shots, averaging 1.92 a game. Budge ranked fourth in steals (2.17 a game) and 10^th in blocked shots (0.75 a game). Amanda Mondrach, a junior guard from Parma (Holy Name), held the second spot for 3-point field-goal percentage (50), hitting 14 of 28 attempts.

Otterbein and Baldwin-Wallace met twice in 2006-07, each winning on the road.

Next up for Otterbein – a trip to Tiffin to battle Heidelberg in an OAC contest on Saturday, Jan. 12. 

Cards Win Smokey Ballenger Classic
Written Dec. 29, 2007 by Aurelio Ruiz

WESTERVILLE, OHIO—For the third straight year, the Otterbein women’s basketball team claimed the Smokey Ballenger Classic championship by defeating Saint Mary’s College (IN), 79-65.

The Cardinals opened the game by scoring the first six points, but eventually the Belles would battle back, allowing for several lead changes throughout the first half.  At the end of the first half, the Cardinals sat on a 39-36 lead.

The second half saw much of the same trend until late when Sara Fee, a senior guard from Bryan, was fouled sending her to the line with 4:22 to play and Otterbein leading, 62-59.  Fee sank both foul shots to start a 16-6 run and put the game away.

During Otterbein’s run, Ana Gamble, a senior guard from Pickerington (Pickerington North), was big down the stretch, making eight of the 16 points in the Otterbein run.

Gamble, who was named to the all-tournament team, led the Cardinals with 20 points.  Katy Miller, a sophomore forward from Delaware (Hayes), tallied 17 points and 10 rebounds. Miller was named the tournament’s most valuable player. Laura Roth, a junior guard from Cincinnati (Mother of Mercy), and Karli Volkmer, a sophomore guard from Galion (Colonel Crawford), each contributed 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Allison Kessler, a senior guard from LaPorte, Ind., led Saint Mary’s with 18 points and five assists. Erin Newsome, a junior forward from South Bend, Ind., added 10 points on 4-of-9 shooting from the floor.  Kessler and Newsome were named to the all-tournament team.

Cards Advance to Championship Game in Smokey Ballenger Classic
Written Dec. 28, 2007 by Aurelio Ruiz

WESTERVILLE, OHIO— In tournament action, the Otterbein women’s basketball team kicked off the 28th-annual Smokey Ballenger Classic with an 89-64 victory over Franklin College (IN).

Otterbein’s scoring attack was led by Ana Gamble, a senior guard from Pickerington (North), who set a career high with 21 points on 7 of 13 shooting from the floor.  Laura Roth, a junior guard from Cincinnati (Mother of Mercy), added 14 points and also contributed six assists and six steals.  Sara Fee, a senior guard from Bryan, chipped in 13 points and was perfect at the foul line, making all four of her attempts.

After an 8-8 tie early in the first half, the Cardinals mounted a 22-5 run and led, 30-14, with 11:40 to play in the first half. Otterbein continued to roll after the intermission as it opened the second half with a 27-7 run to put the game out of reach for the Grizzlies.

Franklin was led by Heather Harper, a sophomore center from Mooresville, Ind.  Harper shot 8 of 13 from the floor on her way to scoring 22 points.  She also added 11 rebounds.

Cards to Host Polar Bears in Key OAC Matchup
Written Dec. 17, 2007 by Ed Syguda

WESTERVILLE, OHIO—Otterbein, a winner in four of its last five games, hosts the Polar Bears of Ohio Northern, 7:30 p.m., Wednesday in an Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) game.

The two teams entered the week locked in a five-way tie for first place, each 3-1 in the OAC.

The Cardinals (5-4, 3-1), under 17th-year head coach Connie Richardson, took a 7-5 lead four minutes into the game off a layup from Laura Roth, a junior guard from Cincinnati (Mother of Mercy), and never trailed again in a 65-47 win over Mount Union Saturday in Alliance.

Karli Volkmer, a sophomore guard from Galion (Colonel Crawford High School), matched her career scoring high with 23 points, making 10 of 12 shots from the field at Mount Union. A week earlier, Volkmer scored 23 on 10-of-13 shooting in an 87-81 loss at Muskingum Dec. 8. The sophomore guard, who has scored in double digits over the last four games, sits seventh in the OAC for scoring (13.7 points a game) and fourth for field-goal percentage (58.6), making 51 of 87 shot attempts.

Anna Gamble, a senior forward from Pickerington (North), and Sara Fee, a senior guard from Bryan, each scored 14 at Mount Union. Roth handed out seven assists, a season high for her.

The Polar Bears (7-2, 3-1), under head coach Michele Durand, who is in her seventh season at Ohio Northern, won their second straight, defeating John Carroll, 77-57, Saturday at home in Ada.

Erin Brand, a senior center from Yorkshire (Marion Local), led a group of five Polar Bears scoring in double digits. Brand tallied 17 points and seven rebounds. Alisha Rinehart, a sophomore guard from Lima (Perry), came off the bench to notch her first career double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds.

Coming into the week, Otterbein’s Roth led the OAC in assists, averaging 4.6 a game, and steals, 2.8 an outing; and ranked fourth in scoring (15.7 points a game) and third in 3-pointers made (2.1 per game).

Katy Miller, a sophomore forward from Delaware (Hayes), held down the third spot in rebounding, averaging 9.1 an outing, while Sara Fee ranked second in field-goal percentage, making 38 of 62 attempts for 61.3 percent. Gamble ranked fourth in free-throw percentage (81.5), making 22 of 27, and sixth in 3-pointers made (1.9 a game).

Ohio Northern’s Jenny Markle, a senior guard from Fairlawn (Copley), led the OAC in three-point field-goal percentage (60.0) and made threes (3.0 a game). Markle has made 27 of 45 three-point field-goal attempts this season. Emily Culbertson, a junior guard from Mount Vernon, ranked second in both steals (2.6 a game) and three-point field-goal percentage (56.3). Rinehart ranked second for free-throw percentage (87.8), hitting 36 of 41 attempts.

Cards Improve to 2-0 in the OAC with Win over Marietta
Written Dec. 6, 2007 by Aurelio Ruiz

WESTERVILLE, OHIO—The Otterbein women’s basketball team won its third straight game, defeating Marietta, 89-53, in Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) action Wednesday night at the Rike Center.  With the win, the Cardinals improved to 4-3 overall and 2-0 in the OAC.  With the loss, the Pioneers fell to 2-5 overall and 0-2 in the OAC.

Laura Roth, a junior guard from Cincinnati (Mother of Mercy High School), led five Otterbein players scoring in double digits. Roth scored 16 points and was 4 of 6 from three-point range. Roth also chipped in two rebounds and four steals.

Allison Huettel, a sophomore post from Pickerington (North), set a career high with 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the floor.  Anna Gamble, a senior guard from Pickerington (North), added 15 points, two assists, and two steals.  Karli Volkmer, a sophomore guard from Galion (Colonel Crawford), and Sara Fee, a senior guard from Bryan, each contributed 10 points, respectively.

The Cardinals controlled the entire game and led by as many 23 points in the first half.  The scoring continued after the intermission as Otterbein continued to shoot well from the field and buried Marietta with a 37-point deficit late into the second half.  The Cardinals also cleared the bench as every player saw time on the floor.

Otterbein finished 36 of 67 (.537) from the field, 6 of 11 (.545) from three-point range, and 11 of 16 (.688) from the free-throw line. The Cardinals dominated the boards, out-rebounding the Pioneers, 48-36, in the win.

Justine Pagenhardt, a senior guard from Oakland, Md. (Southern Garrett), led Marietta with 20 points in the loss.  Amanda Carraher, a junior guard from Hilliard (Davidson), added 14 points.

Cards Carry Two-Game Win Streak into Marietta Game
Written Dec. 4, 2007 by Ed Syguda

WESTERVILLE, OHIO—Otterbein, a winner in three of its last four games, hosts the Pioneers of Marietta College, 7:30 p.m., Wednesday in an Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) game.

The two teams opened OAC play last Saturday—the Cardinals extending their win streak to two games with an 87-79 win over John Carroll at home while Marietta saw its two-game winning streak snapped in an 87-46 loss to Ohio Northern at home.

Otterbein, under 17th-year head coach Connie Richardson, used a 10-2 run late in the second half to build an 11-point lead, 80-69, with 4:20 remaining in its win over John Carroll. The Cardinals trailed John Carroll just three times in the game, the last, 37-35, coming with 2:52 to play in the first half.

Sara Fee, a senior guard from Bryan, scored 22 points on 9-of-12 shooting to lead four Otterbein players scoring in double-digits against John Carroll. The senior also collected five rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots.

Karli Volkmer, a sophomore guard from Galion (Colonel Crawford High School), added 16 points on 7-of-10 shooting along with a career-high five assists. Anna Gamble, a senior forward from Pickerington (North), chipped in 13 points, four rebounds and a career-high seven assists. Otterbein’s leading scorer, Laura Roth, a junior guard from Cincinnati (Mother of Mercy), scored 15.

In Marietta, Ohio Northern scored the first seven points, opening the game with a 13-2 run and never trailed in its win over the Pioneers last Saturday. The Polar Bears shot 68.8 percent from the field, making 33 of 48 field-goal attempts.

The Pioneers, under first-year head coach Jill Meiring, were led by Justine Pagenhardt, a senior guard from Oakland, Md. (Southern Garrett), who scored 17 in the loss. Amanda Carraher, a junior guard from Hilliard (Davidson), added 12 points.

Marietta entered its game with Ohio Northern off back-to-back home wins over New Jersey City, 49-43, Nov. 25 and Bethany, 74-63, Nov. 28.

Coming into the week, Otterbein’s Roth ranked second in the OAC in scoring, averaging 17.8 points a game; and sat sixth in assists (3.7 a game), third in steals (2.8 a game) and fourth in 3-pointers (2.0 per game). Miller held down the third spot in rebounding, averaging 9.2 an outing, while Sara Fee ranked sixth in field-goal percentage at .568.

Marietta’s Pagenhardt leads the OAC in scoring, averaging 19.3 points a game.

Otterbein won both meetings with Marietta last season, winning at home, 90-53, and on the road, 81-27.

Cards Host John Carroll in Home and OAC Opener
Written Nov. 29, 2007 by Ed Syguda

WESTERVILLE, OHIO—Otterbein, playing its first five games on the road, returns to the friendly confines of the Rike Center for its home and Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) opener, taking on the Blue Streaks of John Carroll University. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday.

“We’re excited to get into OAC play,” said head coach Connie Richardson, who is in her 17th season at Otterbein. “Up to this point, we have played to get prepared for the tough OAC stretch ahead of us.”

The Cardinals, 2-3 overall, come into the game off a 66-42 win at Peace College Tuesday in Raleigh, N.C. Laura Roth, a junior guard from Cincinnati (Mother of Mercy), led the way with 17 points, four assists and four steals. Katy Miller, a sophomore forward from Delaware (Hayes), tallied her third double-double of the season with 16 points and 12 rebounds.

Otterbein played to a split decision last weekend at the Methodist College Tournament, defeating Ferrum, 77-72, in the opening round last Saturday and losing to host Methodist, 58-57, Sunday in Fayetteville, N.C. Roth collected 45 points, eight assists and 10 steals over two games to earn OAC "player of the week" honors.

“Our play so far has been spotty and inconsistent,” Richardson said. “Our bench must become a bigger factor in our game. If we get that, we have the potential to play at the level I think we are capable of playing.

“I also think playing on the road early in the season will help us down the road when we have a stretch of road games in January,” Richardson continued. “It is a great experience to learn to play away from home court and makes it even more special when we do get back home.”

John Carroll, 2-2 overall, heads into the game off a 79-64 loss to Washington & Jefferson Wednesday in its home opener in University Heights. Washington & Jefferson started the game red hot, hitting eight of their first 10 shots to build a 21-8 lead with 12:40 remaining in the first half.

The Blue Streaks, under ninth-year head coach Kristie Maravalli, were led by Rachael Price, a junior guard from Johnstown, Pa. (Bishop McCourt), who scored 12 points in the loss. Laura Gruber, a sophomore forward from Minster, came off the bench to chip in eight points and eight rebounds.

At midweek, Otterbein’s Roth ranked third in the OAC in scoring, averaging 18.4 points a game; and sat fifth in assists (4.0 a game), second in steals (3.4 a game) and fourth in 3-pointers (2.2 per game). Miller held down the third spot in rebounding, averaging 9.8 an outing, while Sara Fee, a senior guard from Bryan, ranked fifth in field-goal percentage at .500.

John Carroll’s Caitlin Sureck, a sophomore forward from Medina (Walsh Jesuit), ranked second in the OAC in both rebounding (10.0 a game) and blocks (1.8 per game). Price sat third in steals (3.0 a game).

OAC Names Roth Player of the Week
Written Nov. 26, 2007 by Ed Syguda

WESTERVILLE, OHIO—Laura Roth, a junior guard from Cincinnati (Mother of Mercy High School), was named Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) “player of the week” in women’s basketball, the OAC released Monday.

Roth collected 45 points, eight assists and 10 steals over two games at the Methodist Tournament held Saturday and Sunday in Fayetteville, N.C.

She scored 26 points along with six assists and a career-high seven steals in a 77-72 win over Ferrum (VA) Saturday, and added 19 points in a 58-57 loss to host Methodist Sunday. Roth was named to the all-tournament team.

Cards Set to Play in Methodist (VA) Tourney
Written Nov. 19, 2007 by Don Middleton

WESTERVILLE, OHIO―The Otterbein women’s basketball team will travel to Fayetteville, N.C., this weekend to play in the Methodist Tournament, hosted by Methodist University.

The Cards are coming off an 0-2 showing in the UAA-OAC Challenge with losses to Carnegie Mellon, 77-73, and Case Western Reserve, 69-57, last weekend.

2006-07 OAC freshman of the year Katy Miller (Delaware/Hayes) returned where she left off a season ago, averaging a double-double with 12 points and 13.5 rebounds over the two games at Carnegie Mellon.  Guard Laura Roth, a junior from Cincinnati (Mother of Mercy), is leading the team in scoring, averaging 15 points a game, which includes a 23-point effort in the team’s season opener against Carnegie Mellon.

The Cards will hit the floor Saturday against Ferrum (VA) to take on the Panthers at 6 p.m.  Otterbein will then conclude tournament action against host Methodist on Sunday.  Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m.

The team’s first home game is Dec. 1 against Ohio Athletic Conference opponent John Carroll.

Starters Earn All-OAC Honors
Written Mar. 1, 2007 by Jason Miller

WESTERVILLE, OHIO--All five starters on the Otterbein College women’s basketball team were named All-Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC), the OAC released Wednesday.

Guard Laura Roth, a sophomore from Cincinnati (Mother of Mercy High School), earned first team All-OAC honors. Roth started all 26 games at point guard and led the conference in steals (3.1 per game) and is ranked fifth in NCAA Division III in three-point field-goal percentage (.452). She was also second in the league in assists (5.2 per contest) and fourth in scoring (15.6 ppg). Roth scored 10 or more points in 23 games.

Guard/forward Sarah Esterkamp, a sophomore from Cincinnati (McAuley), was named second team All-OAC. Esterkamp led the team in rebounding (7.1 rpg) and was second in scoring (13.1 ppg) and blocked shots (12). She was fifth in the OAC in field-goal percentage (.525) and scored in double-digits in 14 games.

Guard Sara Fee, a junior from Bryan, guard Ana Gamble, a junior from Pickerington (North), and forward Katy Miller, a freshman from Delaware (Hayes), were named honorable mention All-OAC.

Fee ranked third in the league in steals (2.2 per contest) and fifth in free-throw percentage (.777). She led the team in blocked shots (14), ranked second in steals and assists (2.6 per game), third in rebounding (4.8 rpg) and fourth in scoring (11.7 ppg). Fee scored double-digits 18 times.

Gamble ranked second on the team in blocked shots (12) and third in scoring (12.0 ppg). She was fifth in the conference in three-point field-goal percentage (.373) and scored 10 or more points in 19 games.

Miller was also named Freshman of the Year, starting all 26 games. She averaged 11.4 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.
 

Miller Earns OAC Freshman of the Year
Written Feb. 28, 2007 by Jason Miller

Katy Miller

WESTERVILLE, OHIO--Forward Katy Miller, a freshman from Delaware (Rutherford B. Hayes High School), was named Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Freshman of the Year, the OAC released today.

Miller started all 26 games for the Cardinals and ranked second on the team in rebounding (6.5 rpg) and fifth in scoring (11.4 ppg). In addition, Miller tallied 47 assists and 11 blocked shots.

Miller scored 10 or more points in 15 games. She tallied 26 points in an overtime loss to Wilmington and 13 rebounds in a win against Marietta, both career highs.

Miller was also named honorable mention All-OAC.

“To travel anywhere in the conference is tough and that is a mental block we are going to try and overcome this week,” said head coach Connie Richardson.

The winner of the game will advance to play the winner of top-seeded Wilmington (21-4, 15-3 OAC) and eighth-seeded Muskingum (8-17, 6-12 OAC).

The Cardinals, under 16th-year head coach Connie Richardson, finished the regular season 14-11 overall and 10-8 in the OAC after falling to Capital, 80-77, Saturday in Bexley. Forward Sarah Esterkamp, a sophomore from Cincinnati (McAuley High School), notched her fourth double-double of the season with 16 points and 13 rebounds.

Guard Ana Gamble, a junior from Pickerington (North), and guard Sara Fee, a junior from Bryan, scored 14 and 13, respectively. Guard Laura Roth, a sophomore from Cincinnati (Mother of Mercy), tallied 12 points and guard Britni Lakas, a junior from Charleston, WV (Mason), netted 11.

Ohio Northern, under sixth-year head coach Michele Durand, enters the matchup 16-9 overall and 11-7 in conference play following a 69-61 loss to Mount Union Saturday in Alliance.

Center Erin Brand, a junior from Yorkshire (Marion Local), scored a game-high 27, while forward Danielle Andreasen, a senior from Wadsworth, notched 18 points and guard Alisha Rinehart, a sophomore from Lima (Perry), recorded 12 points.

Offensively, Ohio Northern is averaging 65.2 points while allowing 58.6 points per game. Otterbein is scoring 80.7 points per contest, which leads the OAC, and is giving up 74.4 points.

Otterbein and Ohio Northern split the two meetings this year with each team winning at home. Otterbein won 65-60 in Westerville and Ohio Northern captured a 70-61 victory in Ada.

“We are preparing to play this week in regards to being tougher mentally, eliminating the small mistakes we are making and understanding what each game represents,” Richardson said.