Setting the scene
Tonight Bluffton College takes on the first of three straight Ohio Athletic Conference members (at Wilmington on Friday and at Muskingum on 12/29) as BC takes a break from competition in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference. Following tonight’s game, Bluffton will not have a home game until 2002, when BC hosts HCAC foe Franklin College on January 2 at 7:00 p.m.
The series
Bluffton leads the all-time series 5-4, but these two teams haven’t met since the 1995-96 season, when BC won 80-67. The series began during the 1978-79 season.
The coaches
Bluffton is led by first year head coach Cathy Bonner, while Otterbein is led by eleventh-year head coach Connie Richardson, who is the winningest coach in Otterbein women’s basketball history and was the 2001 OAC Coach of the Year.
Season records
Bluffton is now 0-8 overall in 2001-02 and 0-3 in the HCAC, while Otterbein is 3-4 overall and 2-2 in the OAC.
Last season
These two teams did not meet last season. Their last matchup was during the 1995-96 season when Bluffton posted an 80-67 win on their way to a 16-9 overall record.
Last game
Both these teams are coming off conference losses on their home court on Saturday afternoon. Bluffton dropped an 83-65 decision to The College of Mount St. Joseph, while Otterbein fell to Mount Union College 61-58.
Against Mount St. Joseph, Bluffton trailed by just six points at 61-55 with 7:03 left in the game, but an 11-1 run at that point by the Lions extended their lead to 16 points with five minutes to go, and BC didn’t get within 12 points the rest of the way. The Mount’s 18-point margin of victory was their largest lead of the game. BC junior Michelle Ray scored a season-high 19 points to lead Bluffton. Junior Lyndsey Robinson and freshman Cara Young both chipped in nine points each.
Otterbein shot 52% from the floor in the second half against Mount Union and forced 19 turnovers, but was outrebounded 49-32 in their three-point loss. Jennifer Harrison led the Cardinals with 16 points, while Diana Esterkamp collected 14 points, eight assists and seven rebounds.
The players
Bluffton lost their top six scorers from last season’s squad, which finished 12-14 overall and advanced to the HCAC tournament semi-finals. The Beavers return just three letterwinners from last season, while Otterbein has seven returning players, including two starters from the 2000-01 squad which finished 14-11 overall and 11-7 in the OAC for third place.
For the first time this season the Beavers do not have a player averaging in double figures as junior Melissa James’ 9.1 points per game leads the squad. James shares the team-lead in rebounding with junior Lyndsey Robinson (6.5 rpg) and in assists with sophomore Karen Harris (22).
Senior Jennifer Harrison is having a fine season to lead the Cardinals again this season. The two-year starter, who was an honorable mention All-OAC pick last season, is averaging 18.7 points per game to go along with 8.1 rebounds per game and a 54.6% shooting percentage.
Cardinal notes
Otterbein has a history of getting hot in December. During one period last season, from Dec. 15 through Feb. 10, the squad won 13 of 15 games, that after starting the season at 1-6. The Cardinals looked to continue that trend this season, posting wins at Capital and Baldwin-Wallace earlier this month. Those two teams were picked to finish #1 and #2 in the OAC pre-season coaches poll. Since then, however, Otterbein has dropped two OAC games at home to Heidelberg and Mount Union.
Around the HCAC
Bluffton is the only HCAC team in action today. Tomorrow, Hanover hosts Findlay and Transylvania plays in the Palm Beach Atlantic Tournament. On Wednesday, Mount St. Joseph plays in the Nassau Sunshine Shootout.
