The Crusaders fell to 17-5 (13-3 OAC) but remained tied in a first place tie in the OAC with Wilmington College. The Polar Bears improved their record to 16-7 overall and 11-5 in the OAC.
Ohio Northern used an 8-2 run in the second half to open up a 48-40 lead with 5:07 left. The Crusaders still trailed by eight with 1:55 remaining, but freshman guard Kristen Richardson made a jumper and senior guard Ralphie Beal made a three-pointer to cut the deficit to 50-47.
Emily Culbertson split a pair of free throws for the Polar Bears, and Richardson responded with a jump shot to bring the Crusaders within 51-49 with 44 seconds left. Ohio Northern made four consecutive free throws and led 55-49 when sophomore guard Heather McAlpin made a three-pointer with nine seconds left, but the Crusaders missed a pair of three-pointers to close the game.
Richardson scored a game-best 15 points to go along with seven rebounds, and Beal added 12. The Crusaders shot just 9-for-21 (42.9 percent) from the free throw line and 35.8 percent from the field for the game.
Alisha Rinehart scored 10 points to lead the Polar Bears, who committed 23 turnovers but shot 17-of-24 (70.8 percent) from the free throw line.
OHIO NORTHERN 55, CAPITAL 52 CAPITAL (17-5, 13-3 OAC) Kristen Richardson 6-9 2-3 15; Ralphie Beal 4-5 2-3 12; Caitlin Elsass 3-7 1-4 7; Heather McAlpin 2-12 0-2 6; Daniele Manalac 1-3 3-3 5; Tiffany Withers 2-2 0-0 4; Jenna Algie 1-5 1-5 3; Mackenzi Thompson 0-2 0-1 0; Chelsea Ruoff 0-0 0-0 0; Caitlin Graessle 0-8 0-0 0. Totals 19-53 9-21 52. OHIO NORTHERN (16-7, 11-5 OAC) Alisha Rinehart 3-6 4-6 10; Jenny Markle 3-6 0-0 9; Danielle Andreasen 1-6 6-6 9; Megan Cevasco 3-7 0-0 7; Leah Zimmerman 1-5 2-2 5; Emily Culbertson 1-4 3-6 5; Erin Brand 2-3 1-1 5; Brittany Bogart 1-1 1-3 3; Sam Herriman 1-1 0-0 2; Tara Butler 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 16-39 17-24 55. Capital....................... 26 26 - 52 Ohio Northern................. 24 31 - 55 3-point goals--Capital 5-21 (Heather McAlpin 2-7; Ralphie Beal 2-2; Kristen Richardson 1-3; Mackenzi Thompson 0-2; Caitlin Graessle 0-7), Ohio Northern 6-20 (Jenny Markle 3-6; Leah Zimmerman 1-4; Danielle Andreasen 1-5; Megan Cevasco 1-2; Emily Culbertson 0-2; Alisha Rinehart 0-1). Fouled out--Capital-Daniele Manalac, Ohio Northern-Erin Brand. Rebounds--Capital 32 (Caitlin Elsass 8), Ohio Northern 39 (Danielle Andreasen 7; Megan Cevasco 7). Assists--Capital 9 (Heather McAlpin 3), Ohio Northern 10 (Jenny Markle 3). Total fouls--Capital 22, Ohio Northern 23. Technical fouls--Capital-None, Ohio Northern-None. A-473