The Crusaders (18-6, 14-4 OAC) earned the No. 2 seed in the OAC tournament and will host No. 7 seed John Carroll University, while the Cardinals (14-11, 10-8 OAC) are the No. 5 seed and travel to Ohio Northern University. Both quarterfinal games will be at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Elsass’s layup at the 18:01 mark in the second half gave Capital its biggest lead of the game, 43-34. Otterbein (14-11, 10-8 OAC) went on a 13-4 run over the next four minutes to tie the game at 47, and opened up a 55-51 lead following a Sarah Esterkamp free throw with 11 minutes left.
Capital answered with a 12-3 run of its own, sparked by a three-point play from freshman guard Kristen Richardson and capped off by a three-pointer from sophomore guard Caitlin Graessle. The Crusaders led by five at that point, 63-58, but Otterbein closed the gap and regained a 65-64 lead after a three-pointer from Ana Gamble.
Richardson responded with four straight points of her own. The Cardinals would take a 73-71 lead after Gamble’s jumper, but another three-pointer from Graessle put Capital back on top with 2:48 left. Otterbein took its final lead, 77-76, after Sara Fee hit a short jumper with 55 seconds left, but Capital would score the game’s final four points and Esterkamp's three-point attempt at the buzzer missed.
There were a total of 13 ties and 14 lead changes in the contest, as five Otterbein players scored in double figures, led by Esterkamp’s 16 points and 13 rebounds. Gamble scored 14, Fee had 13, and Laura Roth added 12 points and six assists.
Graessle paced the Crusaders with 22 points, including five three-pointers. Elsass and Manalac each scored 12 points, and Manalac’s 10 rebounds led the Crusaders. Richardson tallied 11 points and six rebounds.
Otterbein vs Capital 02/17/07 3 p.m. at Columbus, Ohio - The Capital Center CAPITAL 80, OTTERBEIN 77 OTTERBEIN (14-11, 10-8 OAC) Sarah Esterkamp 6-12 4-5 16; Ana Gamble 5-14 2-2 14; Sara Fee 5-9 3-4 13; Laura Roth 3-5 5-5 12; Britni Lakas 5-13 0-0 11; Katy Miller 3-8 0-0 6; Allison Huettel 1-1 1-2 3; Karli Volkmer 1-1 0-1 2; Chelsea Callif 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 29-64 15-19 77. CAPITAL (18-6, 14-4 OAC) Caitlin Graessle 7-16 3-6 22; Daniele Manalac 3-7 6-6 12; Caitlin Elsass 5-8 2-2 12; Kristen Richardson 4-9 3-3 11; Jenna Algie 2-7 3-4 7; Chelsea Ruoff 2-3 1-3 6; Ralphie Beal 3-7 0-0 6; Mackenzi Thompson 1-6 0-0 3; Heather McAlpin 0-3 1-2 1; Abbey Davenport 0-1 0-0 0; Tiffany Withers 0-1 0-1 0; Stephanie Harstine 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 27-68 19-27 80. Otterbein..................... 32 45 - 77 Capital....................... 37 43 - 80 3-point goals--Otterbein 4-15 (Ana Gamble 2-5; Britni Lakas 1-4; Laura Roth 1-2; Katy Miller 0-2; Sarah Esterkamp 0-2), Capital 7-21 (Caitlin Graessle 5-12; Chelsea Ruoff 1-2; Mackenzi Thompson 1-4; Heather McAlpin 0-2; Abbey Davenport 0-1). Fouled out--Otterbein-None, Capital-None. Rebounds--Otterbein 40 (Sarah Esterkamp 13), Capital 44 (Daniele Manalac 10). Assists--Otterbein 16 (Laura Roth 6), Capital 15 (Ralphie Beal 5). Total fouls--Otterbein 24, Capital 20. Technical fouls--Otterbein-None, Capital-None. A-1822