COLUMBUS – The Capital University women's basketball team recorded a huge stop at the end of regulation Wednesday before cruising in overtime for a 73-62 victory over Otterbein in an Ohio Athletic Conference showdown at the Capital Center.
After posting a defensive stop on the Cardinals' final possession of the second half, the Crusaders (8-4 overall, 3-2 OAC) scored 14 unanswered points in the extra frame and allowed only a 3-pointer with under a minute left on their way to a third consecutive win.
"It took us 40 minutes to settle in and play Capital basketball," Capital coach Dixie Jeffers said. "We played with more energy and determination in overtime than we did for the first 40 minutes.
"It was a gutsy effort overall … we hung in and didn't panic. We hit our free throws when we needed to and hit the glass. We have to continue to get better."
Jeffers was recognized prior to the contest after registering her 600th career victory on Monday at Ohio Wesleyan. She is one of just seven Division III coaches all-time to win No. 600.
Senior Shalena Hawkins (Cincinnati, Ohio), one of three team captains part of the pregame festivities, had a game-high 25 points and tied all rebounders with 11. Capital outscored Otterbein (10-3, 4-2) by a 20-10 margin at the free throw line and held a slight edge in field goal shooting (38.5 percent to 32.9 percent).
Senior Hilary Kuhns (Fairfield, Ohio) contributed with 11 points and eight rebounds, while junior Stacy Timmerman (New Bremen, Ohio) added 12 points and nine rebounds.
In a tight, physical contest, neither team gave ground as there were 11 ties and 16 lead changes over the first 40 minutes of play.
In the first half, the Crusaders took an early 5-0 lead and led by four with 2:02 left in the period. From that point, the Cardinals hit three 3-pointers to spearhead a 9-1 run to lead 32-28 at the half.
Capital stepped up its defense in the second half as the tone grew more intense. The Crusaders took their largest lead of the period at 42-37 following a Hawkins jumper with 11:31 to play.
Capital again took a five-point lead with 5:57 on the clock before Otterbein took a 55-53 lead with 3:48 left. After the two teams exchanged scoring possessions, Timmerman scored on a layup to tie the game again and, after a defensive stop, sophomore Cookie Geroski (Fostoria, Ohio) gave the Crusaders a 59-57 lead with 58 seconds to play on a tough jumper in the lane.
The Cardinals tied the game again on the ensuing possession and had two game-winning looks on their final possession. Capital contested both shots and sent the contest into overtime.
"Our defense was impressive in the second half," Jeffers said. "We gave up 41 percent shooting in the first, then 28 in the second and 14 in overtime. You're going to win most nights when you hold the other team to 33 percent."
The Crusaders turned the ball over just nine times and held Otterbein to just 6-of-27 shooting from 3-point range.
Capital returns to action this Saturday at Baldwin-Wallace. Tip-off in Berea, Ohio, is slated for 3 p.m.
After posting a defensive stop on the Cardinals' final possession of the second half, the Crusaders (8-4 overall, 3-2 OAC) scored 14 unanswered points in the extra frame and allowed only a 3-pointer with under a minute left on their way to a third consecutive win.
"It took us 40 minutes to settle in and play Capital basketball," Capital coach Dixie Jeffers said. "We played with more energy and determination in overtime than we did for the first 40 minutes.
"It was a gutsy effort overall … we hung in and didn't panic. We hit our free throws when we needed to and hit the glass. We have to continue to get better."
Jeffers was recognized prior to the contest after registering her 600th career victory on Monday at Ohio Wesleyan. She is one of just seven Division III coaches all-time to win No. 600.
Senior Shalena Hawkins (Cincinnati, Ohio), one of three team captains part of the pregame festivities, had a game-high 25 points and tied all rebounders with 11. Capital outscored Otterbein (10-3, 4-2) by a 20-10 margin at the free throw line and held a slight edge in field goal shooting (38.5 percent to 32.9 percent).
Senior Hilary Kuhns (Fairfield, Ohio) contributed with 11 points and eight rebounds, while junior Stacy Timmerman (New Bremen, Ohio) added 12 points and nine rebounds.
In a tight, physical contest, neither team gave ground as there were 11 ties and 16 lead changes over the first 40 minutes of play.
In the first half, the Crusaders took an early 5-0 lead and led by four with 2:02 left in the period. From that point, the Cardinals hit three 3-pointers to spearhead a 9-1 run to lead 32-28 at the half.
Capital stepped up its defense in the second half as the tone grew more intense. The Crusaders took their largest lead of the period at 42-37 following a Hawkins jumper with 11:31 to play.
Capital again took a five-point lead with 5:57 on the clock before Otterbein took a 55-53 lead with 3:48 left. After the two teams exchanged scoring possessions, Timmerman scored on a layup to tie the game again and, after a defensive stop, sophomore Cookie Geroski (Fostoria, Ohio) gave the Crusaders a 59-57 lead with 58 seconds to play on a tough jumper in the lane.
The Cardinals tied the game again on the ensuing possession and had two game-winning looks on their final possession. Capital contested both shots and sent the contest into overtime.
"Our defense was impressive in the second half," Jeffers said. "We gave up 41 percent shooting in the first, then 28 in the second and 14 in overtime. You're going to win most nights when you hold the other team to 33 percent."
The Crusaders turned the ball over just nine times and held Otterbein to just 6-of-27 shooting from 3-point range.
Capital returns to action this Saturday at Baldwin-Wallace. Tip-off in Berea, Ohio, is slated for 3 p.m.
