TIFFIN -- A fourth-quarter rally was not enough as the Heidelberg University women's basketball team lost to Otterbein University, 63-53, on Saturday afternoon.  Trailing by as many as 13 in the final frame, the Student Princes got as close as two points -- but were unable to clear the final hurdle.  

The loss dropped Heidelberg to 3-5 overall, 0-3 in the Ohio Athletic Conference.  Otterbein improved to 6-1, 2-0.  

Senior Maddy Crawford just missed her 30th career double double, leading HU with 13 points and nine rebounds.  Brittanie Ulmer was the other Student Prince in double figures, finishing with 11 points.  

Down 29-22 at halftime and 45-37 after three, the hosts found themselves behind by 13 early in the fourth quarter.  Ulmer, who struggled to find her range early in the game, dialed up a 3-pointer with 6:39 to play -- a basket which seemed to ignite the team.  Less than a minute later, Ulmer stepped into another 3-pointer which cut the Cardinal lead down to eight.  

After an Otterbein offensive foul, Brooke Beamer hit a jumper in the lane.  Following a pair of free throws for the visitors, Crawford made a layup.  Down six, Ulmer hit a jumper then made a layup on a fast break after an errant Otterbein pass upcourt.  In the span of 4:33, HU had trimmed 11 points off the lead and trailed by a bucket.  

Then Otterbein's Hailey Bauer drilled a 3-pointer.  The shot seemed to deflate The Berg, which didn't make a shot for the remainder of the game.  The Cardinals made enough free throws to thwart the desperate comeback.  

Four finished in double figures for the Cardinals, led by an 18-point effort from Abbie Scholz.  

Crawford added five blocked shots to her efforts in the paint.  

Heidelberg is off until after Christmas -- returning to action on Dec. 29 at Ohio Wesleyan for a two-day invitational in Delaware.