Box Score
WASHINGTON, PA – The Rowan University women’s basketball team defeated Otterbein College (OH), 65-61 in the opening round of the Holiday Inn Meadow Lands Classic on Friday night.
Rowan (1-1) will play the winner of the first round game between Kenyon College and host Washington & Jefferson College on Saturday in the championship at 4 p.m. Otterbein (0-1) meets the loser in the consolation game prior at 2 p.m.
The Profs were led by forward Jessica Nimbley (jr. Middletown, NJ/St. John Vianney) with 18 points. Guard Gina Catanzariti (so. Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) contributed with 15 points and guard Alissa Lamey (jr. Northfield, NJ/Mainland Reg.) added nine. Forward Thena Gaines (jr. Glassboro, NJ/Glassboro) pulled down seven rebounds.
For the Cardinals, guard Laura Roth (sr. Cincinnati, OH/Mother of Mercy) totaled a game-high 27 points. Forward Katy Miller (jr. Delaware, OH/Rutherford B. Hayes) grabbed 10 boards. Guard Kristi Kotterman (fr. Wharton, OH/Riverdale) chipped in with eight points while guard Katie Stallard (fr. Baltimore, OH/Liberty Union) and forward Carla Lewis (jr. Sunbury, OH/Big Walnut) each had seven.
In the second half, Otterbein was ahead by nine points (44-35) at 11:24 after two foul shots by Kotterman. Rowan came back and tied the score at 51 with 6:58 left on Nimbley’s layup. Roth answered with two straight three-pointers to lead 57-51 at 6:14. Guard Nancy White (fr. Ocean City, NJ/Ocean City) made a three-point play at 3:49 that tied the score at 60. Nimbley followed with a layup to go up by two (62-60) with 2:17 left on the clock. Miller made the first of two free throws at the 50 second mark and Otterbein trailed by one. Nimbley had a layup (:27) and Lamey added a foul shot (:08) to seal the victory. Catanzariti compiled 13 second half points and Nimbley had 10.
The Cardinals were ahead 25-23 after the first period. The Profs had a nine point advantage (23-14) after Catanzariti’s layup at 6:14. Otterbein scored nine straight points to tie the score. Roth nailed a jumper that tied it at 1:06. She then made two free throws with five seconds left to end the half.
