The play-by-play will show a wire-to-wire win for the John Carroll Blue Streaks Saturday in Wilmington, but it was not without its tense moments.
Showing lessons learned from some other close calls in recent weeks, JCU made key baskets and free throws down the stretch to snap a three-game skid with a 90-81 win over the host Quakers.
Box Score
John Carroll came ready to play in Ohio Athletic Conference match-up as it rocketed out to a 15-5 lead just over five minutes into the contest. The Blue Streaks kept the pressure on throughout the first half, stretching their advantage to as many as 18 points (37-19) before settling on a 46-32 lead at the break.
The Streaks continued to maintain their doublegigit lead early in the second half. When Lee Jennings converted on a three-point play at the 16:05 mark, she put John Carroll ahead, 57-42.
It would take a 10-0 run by Wilmington to finally bring some tension into what had otherwise been a drama free affair. Emily Zimmerman's second three-pointer of the run brought the Quakers to within 57-52 with 11:52 to play in regulation.
Then, with just over eight minutes left, Marianne McGoron's three ball cut the Streaks' lead to its smallest amount of the second half at 60-57.
John Carroll answered back, scoring 13 of the next 17 points to regain a double digit margin. Katie Knox dropped a short jumper with 5:30 showing on the clock to put John Carroll out in front, 73-61.
Wilmington would not go quietly. The Quakers chipped away, and when Olivia Waters swished through a jumper with 53 ticks left to tock, the JCU lead was cut to 81-77.
A jumper by Whitney Hamilton and 7-8 free throw shooting by the combination of Jennings, Caitlin Sureck and Sadie Zander in the final minute of play would seal the win for John Carroll.
The duo of Jennings (26) and Sureck (a career-high 25) supplied 51 of the 90 points scored by John Carroll (10-10-, 7-7 OAC) on the afternoon, marking its most productive offensive games since scoring 102 against Marietta back on January 23, 2010.
Whitney Hamilton added 13 points for the Blue Streaks, who shot 20-33 (.606) from the field in the first half.
Zimmerman, who was 6-8 from the field including 4-6 from three-point range, was the leading scorer for Wilmington (11-10, 7-7 OAC) with 16 points.
JCU and Wilmington are now tied for fifth place in the OAC, a game and a half behind fourth place Ohio Northern.