Some students were able to take advantage of the six-week break known as J-Term, but Otterbein’s winter athletes weren’t afforded that luxury.

The men’s and women’s basketball and indoor track and field teams were in full swing over late December into the month of January and in case you weren’t—here are the highlights you should know about.

Men’s Basketball

Quite a few milestones occurred over break. Not only did Head Coach and Athletic Director Dick Reynolds announce this would be his last season at the helm of both positions after 40 years, but he earned his 650th-career victory with a 68-66 home win over visiting Ohio Northern University Jan. 25.

In that same victory, senior guard Brice Rausch eclipsed the 1,000-career point mark. Three days later in a 64-61 road defeat to Marietta College Jan. 28, senior center Chris Davis achieved the same mark.

The Cardinals, who were 3-3 overall and 2-0 in the Ohio Athletic Conference when we took our last final exam in December, eventually went on a seven-game losing streak and are now 6-13 overall and 3-9 in the OAC.

Besides the come-from-behind victory over ONU in which junior guard Tommy Waterwash hit a go-ahead three pointer with 18 seconds left to win the game, the Cards beat Wittenberg, 64-61 on the road, and also beat Wisconsin-Platteville, 71-69 in overtime during the Smokey Ballenger Tournament.

The men are scheduled to host Baldwin-Wallace College Wednesday and first-place John Carroll University Saturday. Tip is set for 7:30 p.m.

Women’s Basketball

The women’s team had a little more success than their male counterparts on the hardwood. The Cardinals started the season 10-1 and are now 14-5 overall and 8-4 in the OAC.

A record setting moment occurred when senior guard Kristi Kotterman reached the 1,000-point plateau in a December victory over John Carroll University.

The Cards have lost two of their last three games, but beat visiting Marietta, 74-61, Jan. 28.

The team is tied for third place in the OAC with Capital University, but behind the University of Mount Union and Ohio Northern, respectively.

Otterbein still has six regular-season games left, and will not only be competing to secure hosting a first-round OAC Tournament game, but will also be competing for a potential at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.

The Cards are scheduled to travel to Baldwin-Wallace Wednesday and John Carroll Saturday before returning home to face Capital Feb. 8.

Indoor Track and Field

The women’s team earned first place finishes in both the Otterbein Invitational Jan. 21 and the OAC South Split Meet at Marietta Jan. 28.

At the Otterbein Invitational the Cardinals turned in seven first- place performances to best five other teams, while the team had two first place finishes at the OAC South Split Meet which consisted of five teams.

The men’s team finished first out of five teams at the Otterbein Invitational and fourth out of five teams at the OAC South Split Meet.

Both teams are scheduled to participate at the Ohio Northern Polar Bear Invitational Saturday.