MARIETTA, Ohio — Freshman Tori Dixon (Londonderry/Vinton County) and sophomore Aleisha Guiler (Lower Salem/Monroe Central) combined for 41 points to lead the Marietta College women's basketball team to a 68-64 Ohio Athletic Conference victory over Otterbein University Saturday (Dec. 11) afternoon inside Ban Johnson Arena. [Box Score]

Dixon poured in a game-high 23, while Guiler posted her sixth double-double, finishing with 18 points and game-best 15 rebounds, to help the Pioneers improve to 4-3 overall and 1-1 in league play. Senior Mallor Hoff(Newport/Frontier) also pitched in with 12 points and seven boards, freshmanPaige Lamb (Marietta/Marietta) had eight points and six rebounds and sophomore Kristeva Rowe (Toledo/Sylvania Southview) added four points, four assists and two steals. Marietta's five starters logged 179 of the possible 200 minutes in the victory.

Kristi Kotterman paced Otterbein (2-6, 0-3 OAC) with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Shea McCoy added 10 points, Hannah Day had seven points and Katie Stollard and Julie Macioce both had six points for the Cardinals in the loss.

Marietta out shot Otterbein 44.2% (19-of-43) to 31.4% (22-of-70) from the field, including 42.1% (8-of-19) to 25.0% (5-of-20) from beyond the arc. The Pioneers also out scored the Cardinals 22-15 from the line and finished with a 41-39 edge on the boards.

The first half saw the lead change hands on five occassions. Marietta's biggest lead was 10-5 and came with 15:17 to play in the half. Otterbein then broke a 21-21 tie with a 8-0 run to build a 29-21 advantage with 5:22 remaining in the period. The Pioneer's however, closed the half on a 13-4 run to take a 34-33 lead into the break. 

The Cardinals built their lead back to six points, 42-36, with 16:40 left in the game. Marietta then went on a 13-4 run to take back the advantage 49-44 midway through the final period. Another run by Otterbein tied the game at 51-51 with 6:37 on the clock, but Marietta responded to score the next six points and take the lead for good en route to the 68-64 win.

Marietta is back in action Wednesday (Dec. 15) evening when the Pioneers play host to Baldwin-Wallace College at 7:30 p.m.