Rinehart scores game-high 25, but Otterbein edges Women's Basketball 73-69

Alisha Rinehart

By Jeff Blezien

| Box Score |

WESTERVILLE — Senior Alisha Rinehart scored a game-high 25 points to lead Ohio Northern, but Otterbein never trailed in a 73-69 victory over women’s basketball Wednesday night at the Rike Center.

The Polar Bears fall to 8-12 overall and 6-7 in Ohio Athletic Conference action, while the Cardinals improve to 11-9, 7-6.

Freshman Kara Dysert tied a career high with19 points and a game-high nine boards, while sophomore Erica Schoenberger registered 12 points.

Dysert also tied career highs with three assists, four steals and a blocked shot.

Freshman Megan Porter had three 3-point field goals and finished with nine points on the night.

The Polar Bears tied the game at 24-24 with 4:43 left in the first half, but the Cardinals went on a 14-4 run to end the first half 38-28.

Otterbein’s biggest lead of 42-30 with 17:28 left in the second half.

Schoenberger brought ONU within 70-69 with a 3-point field goal with 40 seconds left.

After Megan Porter’s miss with nine seconds left, Otterbein’s Jessica Tonges solidified the victory with a free throw with two seconds left.

Northern was out-rebounded by the Cardinals 38 to 28.

The Cardinals had four players with double digit scoring led by Carla Lewis who had 16 points and six boards.

Laura Roth and Katy Miller both had 14 points, while Allison Huettel finished with 12 points.

Jessica Tonges and Karly Volkmer both had six boards to lead the team along with Lewis.

Otterbein sweeps the season series as they topped Northern 66-55 at the ONU Sports Center on January 3.

The Polar Bears will return to action 3 pm on Saturday when they host John Carrol at the ONU Sports Center.