Written by Athletic Communications Student Assistant Cody Duckworth '27
BEREA, Ohio – The No. 8 nationally ranked and top-seeded Baldwin Wallace University women's basketball team lost to the No. 2 seeded Otterbein University Cardinals 51-45 in the Ohio Athletic Conference tournament final.
The Cardinals jumped out to an early lead before BW leveled the score in the fourth quarter. A late run by Otterbein sealed the game. Senior 2025-26 All-OAC Second Team guard
Leah Riley (Cincinnati/Sycamore) was named to the All-OAC Tournament team.
BW Leaders (24-3, 16-0 OAC)
- Riley led BW with 14 points, three assists, and two steals and added two rebounds
- Senior 2025-26 All-OAC Honorable Mention forward Brooke Thompson (Maineville/Little Miami) scored six points, grabbed two offensive rebounds, and recorded one block
- Junior forward Kayla Jones (Grove City) scored five points and had a team-leading five rebounds
Otterbein Leaders (22-5, 14-2 OAC)
- Freshman center Cameron Sparks led the Cardinals with 11 points and added six rebounds
- Sophomore guard Kiara Hudgins scored 10 points, grabbed five rebounds, and had three steals
- Sophomore forward Madilyn Stechschulte grabbed a team-leading 11 rebounds, scored six points and recorded three steals.
1st Quarter (17-7 Otterbein)
- The Cardinals came out of the gates up 10-0 after the first five minutes
- Otterbein made eight field goals compared to BW's three
- The Yellow Jackets won the rebound battle, 8-7
2nd Quarter (25-22 Otterbein)
- The Yellow Jackets won the quarter 15-8
- Riley led BW with five points in the quarter
- BW went 100% from the free throw line
3rd Quarter (38-36 Otterbein)
- The Yellow Jackets won the quarter 14-13
- BW scored three three-pointers compared to Otterbein's zero
- Riley notched three assists in the quarter
4th Quarter (51-45 Otterbein)
- Otterbein had an 8-4 run in the last five minutes
- Jones led the Yellow Jackets with five points
- Sparks led the Cardinals with five points
No. 8 women's basketball will learn their fate for the 2026 NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Tournament during the selection show on Monday, March 2 at 2:30 p.m.
