COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Capital University women's basketball team exacted revenge in the coveted Battle of the Oar presented by Byers Airport Subaru on Saturday evening with a loud 51-47 win over the visiting Otterbein Cardinals. 

Capital trailed 37-32 heading to the fourth quarter and rallied to outscore the Cardinals 19-10 in the final period, led by a dynamic duo of Laney Murphy and Bri O'Connor. The pair combined for all 19 points in the final 10 minutes of action, led by Murphy's 11, to pull off the comeback effort. The win was also buoyed forward by the frenzied Comet crowd of more than 800 in The Capital Center. 

The win is Capital's first over Otterbein since February 1, 2020 and improves the Comets to 12-5 overall and 6-5 in the OAC. The loss sets Otterbein back to 10-7 overall and 6-4 in the conference. The loss also snapped a four-game winning streak by the Cardinals. 

The win for Capital gave them possession of the Oar trophy for the first time since the re-established tradition that began prior to the 2021-22 season. 

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Comets got the first points in the game on a long jumper from Demi Brewer and kept a narrow lead until the midway point of the first. After securing the advantage, Otterbein opened up a 13-8 lead by the end of the first stanza. 

To start the second quarter, the Cards opened up a 10-point spread, but the Comets ended the first half on a 14-6 run that narrowed the gap to just 26-24 at the intermission. Bri O'Connor scored Capital's final eight points over the run to push Cap back into contention. 

Out of the locker room, Capital evened the score of a basket by Laney Murphy before a jumper by O'Connor put the Purple and White ahead 28-26. That hot start eventually swung back to the Cardinals as they built a five-point spread out heading to the fourth quarter. Maddi Weiland's layup proved crucial late to give the Comets a little boost before the final period of play. 

The fourth is where the Comets established their ownership of the game as they opened up the quarter on an 11-2 run that was spearheaded by back-to-back triples from Murphy and O'Connor. 
The duo was not done as Murphy splashed home two more treys to put Cap ahead 43-39 with just over four minutes remaining. Down the stretch, O'Connor hit another layup and Murphy banked home another 3-pointer that proved to be the winning points. Playing catch-up the Cards needed to foul to stop the clock and in doing so, O'Connor kept her nerve at the free throw line, hitting the crucial clinching points. 

Murphy and O'Connor combined for all 19 points in the final stanza, helping push the team over the hump. 

THE NUMBERS
Bri O'Connor led all scorers with 25 points on an efficient 9-of-15 from the floor. She was also near perfect from the free throw line, going 6-of-7. Contributing elsewhere, O'Connor finished with four rebounds, five steals, two blocks and an assist. 

Laney Murphy finished with 18 points, 11 of which came in the critical fourth quarter comeback. She also added three steals and a rebound. 

Samaree Perkins, Demi Brewer, Maddi Weiland, and Nicole Flock all finished with two points each to complete the scoring. 

Weiland finished with a team-high eight rebounds and three blocks. 

Perkins ended with seven rebounds. 

Brewer compiled five rebounds, three assists, and a block. 

THE OPPONENT
Points - Olivia Majors (23)
Rebounds -Kathleen DeCarlo (11)
Assists - Claire Radabaugh (3)
Blocks - Jenna Hoschouer (4)
Steals - DeCarlo (2)

UP NEXT
Capital will travel to Muskingum University on Wednesday, January 25th. Tip will be at 7 p.m., immediately following the men's contest which will begin at 5 p.m. that night.