Five different Crusaders scored 10 or more points, led by senior guard Shelby Sheets (Fayetteville, Ohio) and her 16 points. She also added four assists, three rebounds and one block in a game she barely left the floor.

Sophomore Nina Napolitano (Akron, Ohio) and freshman Chelsea Pla (Macedonia, Ohio) each scored 14 points while juniors Kristen Thompson (Cincinnati, Ohio) and Simonne Gage (Dayton, Ohio) each added 12 points, each. Gage also led both sides with seven assists and five steals.

Following Thompson's fifth foul of the game, Marietta's Jordanna Rauch hit a three-point shot from the left wing to give the Pioneers its first lead since the game's opening minutes. With the score in favor of the guests, 77-76, Capital came back down the court in an effort to retake the lead. After a miss on the other end, Pla was fouled on the rebound attempt.

Pla, who missed the last four games, went on to make her two free throws with less than 30 seconds to go and was sent to the line again following the next Marietta possession. Rauch had an open look on the far baseline from 15 feet out but was unable to connect. Pla came in with an aggressive rebound and made a second trip to the line after being fouled. She split the pair to give Capital a 79-77 lead with 11 seconds less to go.

Napolitano came up with a key offensive rebound on Pla's missed free throw, giving Capital another chance to extend its lead with more free throws to come. Napolitano sank both free throws to put the game out of reach.

Capital (7-6 overall, 3-5 OAC) was well on its way to victory, leading at one time by 17 points. They finished the first half and began the second half strongly, combining for a 20-4 run over a 5:33 stretch of time. Napolitano made up five of Capital's final eight points heading into the locker room while Thompson scored six of the team's first eight points after the break.

Marietta (5-9, 1-6) held the Crusaders scoreless over a four-minute stretch in the second half, meanwhile slowly erasing the hosts' lead. Four different Pioneers contributed to the run which trimmed Capital's lead to three points, 59-56. Alexander Candice worked the inside and made a pair of runners, back-to-back, to made for a one-point game, 61-60. Capital battled to keep its lead before eventually giving way for a brief second in the final minute.

Heather Booth from Marietta was the game's high scorer with 18 points on 8-of-16 shooting. She also added seven rebounds.

Capital will hit the road in its next action, facing off against Heidelberg University on Saturday, Jan. 17 at 3 p.m.