Shorthanded Tigers Stumble At Otterbein

Early lead doesn't stand up as Cardinals pull away from Wittenberg for 72-62 non-conference victory.

Carli Swartz scored 14 points off the bench for the Tigers in a 10-point loss to Otterbein. File Photo | Erin Pence
Carli Swartz scored 14 points off the bench for the Tigers in a 10-point loss to Otterbein. File Photo | Erin Pence
November 25, 2013
Box Score

WESTERVILLE, Ohio - After winning three of their first four games with a makeshift lineup due to injuries and illness, the Wittenberg Tigers were unable to keep pace with host Otterbein in a 72-62 non-conference loss.

The loss dropped Wittenberg to 3-2 on the season, while Otterbein picked up its first victory of the 2013-14 season to improve to 1-2.

Wittenberg led by as many as nine points in the first half before the Cardinals went on a game-changing 11-3 run over the final 3:25 before intermission. After the Tigers started the second half with four straight points, Otterbein slowly pulled away, never allow Wittenberg to get any closer than six points over the final 15 minutes of the game.

The two teams shot a similar percentage from the field, with Wittenberg making four more three-point field goals but the Cardinals getting six more points at the free throw line. The two teams were evenly matched on the boards, with Wittenberg winning the rebounding battle 37-36, but the Tigers committed 22 costly turnovers, compared to 12 for Otterbein.

Senior Amber Rice (South Charleston, Ohio/Southeastern) led the Tigers with 23 points, four assists and nine rebounds. Sophomore Carli Swartz (Bala Cynwyd, Pa./Lower Merion) added 14 points off the bench and junior Heather Schroeder (Aurora, Ohio/Aurora) chipped in with 10 points.

The loss capped a season-opening five-game road trip for the Tigers, who will finally open the home portion of the 2013-14 schedule against Ohio Christian at 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30.