After snapping a modest three-game winning streak with a loss last Wednesday to nationally ranked Mount Union, John Carroll was determined to get back in the win column against Ohio Northern, who entered play tied for third in the conference.
Unfortunately, the defense couldn't limit Ohio Northern's versatile scroing attack in a 89-79 defeat.
Box Score
Both teams got off to quick starts from the floor. The Streaks and Polar Bears combined for six trey's in the opening five minutes of play.
Sloppy turnovers from Ohio Northern (13-6, 8-4 in the OAC) and good shooting by the visiting Blue Streaks kept John Carroll (10-9, 5-7 in the OAC) in the contest throughout the first 12 minutes of the game.
Over the next three minutes however, the Streaks could not find the bottom of the net and found themselves on the wrong end of a 8-0 scoring run. With 5:47 to play, John Carroll trailed 32-24.
Playing relatively even-keel the remainder of the half, the teams traded baskets twice inside 30 seconds to go. John Carroll trailed at the break, 45-38.
After getting outrebounded in their first meeting 59-28, John Carroll seemed determined to reverse their fate on the road this go-around. In the first half, John Carroll out-rebounded the Polar Bears 25-22 and 12-6 on the offensive glass. Missy Spahar (Willowick, OH, Mentor Lake Catholic) had a team high eight borads at the intermission.
Though Emilee Ritchie (Stow, OH, Stow - Monroe Falls ) hit a quick layup right out of the gate to start the second half, the Streaks couldn't keep pace with the Polar Bears. ONU opened up a 59-47 lead with 15:26 to play after a Kara Dysert knocked home a jumper from the free throw line.
John Carroll, after a much needed time out, effectively trimmed the Polar Bear lead to four points at 61-57. But only three minutes later, they were forced to burn yet another timeout as they trailed 72-63 with 8:17 to play.
Lee Jennings (Stow, OH, Stow-Monroe Falls), who didn't play in the first meeting between these two schools, rose to the challenge that the Polar Bears threw her way. Her lay-up with 3:51 remaining gave her 26 points on the afternoon and cut the lead to a two possession advantage for the home squad, 79-73.
Unfortunately, time wasn't on JCU's side today. A few easy layups and free throws down the stretch helped Ohio Northern seal the 89-79 victory.
"We need to play better defense," said Coach Maravalli after the loss. "We're going to put up 70-plus points each night, but we need to bear down defensviely. Although tonight was a much better overall effort than the first time we played Ohio Northern, we're still getting beat under the basket."
Jennings finished with a game-high 32 points on 11-23 shooting, her second consecutive 30-point effort. Missy Spahar recorded her fifth career double double, finishing with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Allison Lustig (Palo Alto , CA, Archbishop Mitty) netted a career-high 17 points, catapulted by five 3-balls.
"I was really nervous making my first career start at Marietta two weeks ago, but it hasn't taken me long to feel comfortable in this offense," said Lustig afterwards. "Today, Lee and Emilee found me open a few different times and really helped me sink into a rhythm. I just try to push the ball in transition and trust me teammates."
