Kelsey Goodell Buzzer-Beater Lifts Tigers Past Otterbein

San Antonio -  Trinity sophomore forward Kelsey Goodell scored at the buzzer to lead the Tiger women's basketball team over the Otterbein (Ohio) Cardinals 72-71 Monday night in Sams Gym.

Trinity, ranked 15th in the latest WBCA Division III poll, improved to 4-0 this season with the win.

Goodell, from Portland, Ore. (Lincoln), took the inbounds pass from junior guard Danielle Hubenak with just 0.4 left on the clock, and made the layup for the winning score.

Otterbein's Natalie Conkle had just given the Cardinals a 71-70 lead, by hitting a jumper with nine seconds remaining.

The Tigers tied the score at 69-69 on a layup by sophomore forward Abby Dietert at 26 seconds. Dietert was fouled and made the free throw to give Trinity a 70-69 lead.

Goodell registered a double-double, with 19 points and 11 rebounds. She shot 6-19 from the field, hit 6-8 free throws, and made a 3-pointer. Goodell also blocked four shots.

Dietert, from nearby Cibolo, Texas (Steele), had 18 points, on 7-12 shooting. She also made two steals. Hubenak, from San Antonio (Churchill), scored in double figures for the fourth time in as many games, adding 14 points. She led the game with five assists, and had a Trinity-best four steals.

Sophomore guard Ali Marzella of Katy, Texas (Taylor), scored 11 points, and dished out four assists. Marzella also blocked three shots and made two steals.

Karli Volkmer was the high scorer for Otterbein, with 19 points, and Conkle had 18. Kristi Kotterman was right behind, with 17 points. 

The Tigers led 37-36 at halftime,. coming back from a five-point deficit. Otterbein led by as much as nine points, 51-42, at 15:48 in the second half. Trinity pulled to within one point, 61-62, with a layup and free throw by Goodell at 5:39.  The Cardinals led 69-64, on a layup by Conkle at 1:50. Goodell made a free throw at 1:42, followed by a layup from Dietert with 1:05 remaining, as Trinity closed to 67-69.

Trinity shot 36 percent from the field, and Otterbein hit 47 percent. Trinity held a 42-40 edge in rebounding, and led 18-15 in offensive boards.

The Tigers open their SCAC campaign Thursday, by hosting Southwestern at 6 p.m. Trinity's men make their home debut with an 8 p.m. game against the Pirates.