COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Capital University women's basketball team (19-6, 13-5 OAC) hosted rival Otterbein (12-13, 8-10 OAC) on Saturday night in the 2025 edition of the Battle for the Oar. It would be all Comets in the end, with the Purple and White taking the oar home for the third straight season, 73-54. 

As it was also the last game of the regular season, the night also served as senior night for the Comets as they celebrated the careers of their five seniors Aly Ray, Laney Murphy, Kenzie Weiland, Maddi Weiland, and Bri O'Connor prior to tipoff.

With the win, CU secures the four-seed in the OAC Women's Basketball Tournament and will host five-seed Marietta on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Capital got off to a good start, pulling ahead in the early going and maintaining a decent lead throughout the first quarter. Bri O'Connor led the efforts with seven points as the Comets took a 14-9 advantage into the break. The Purple and White would go on to double their lead before the half, outscoring Otterbein 16-12 in the second quarter, making it a 30-21 game at halftime. O'Connor added eight points in the quarter bringing her first half total to 15. 

CU started the second half on a tear, outpacing their opponents 25-16 in the third quarter thanks to a 16-5 run to end the period. O'Connor contributed eight of that 16, with 11 total in the third. Perkins added six as Capital took a demanding 55-37 lead. The Comets went on to finish it off in the fourth quarter, outscoring Otterbein 18-17 to finalize a 19-point victory, 73-54.

THE NUMBERS
Bri O'Connor led all scorers with a season-high 32 points – just two points shy of tying her career high – and recorded six rebounds, one assists, and one steal as well. She had yet another great shooting night, going 8-for-15 from the field, 4-for-7 from deep, and a perfect 12-for-12 from the free throw line.

Samaree Perkins officially joined the 1000-point club with 16 points on the night for a career total of 1013. She also secured her 12th double-double of the season with a game-high 11 rebounds, also having two blocks, two steals, and one assist.

Laney Murphy finished with nine points and four rebounds. 

Jenna Horsley had eight points and two rebounds.

Kya Jordan and Kendall Spreen scored three points each. Jordan also recorded four rebounds, two assists, one block, and one steal. 

Kenzie Weiland ended with two points, one rebound, one assist, and one block.

Maddi Weiland had two rebounds, two assists, one block, and one steal.

Tahirah Ellis dished out two assists with one rebound and one steal.

UP NEXT
With the regular season now in the rear-view, the four-seed Comets set their sights on the OAC Tournament, starting with a matchup with five-seed Marietta at the Cap Center on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.