Box Score

A sharp shooting John Carroll women's basketball team knocked down five 3-pointers in the first half at home Staurday afternoon, but gave way to a late Wilmington push that dropped JCU, 71-68, to hand the Blue & Gold their 10th conference loss in the 2012-2013 campaign. 

Basketball games are often won by getting your team on a scoring run.  Near the 13 minute mark of the first half, the Blue Streaks, trailing 15-14, found some rhythm with a 15-5 run, sprung by junior Missy Spahar's 3-point play off a lay-up and a foul.  Their efficient offense during that stretch helped them jump out to a 29-20 lead with 9:42 on the clock.

The Quakers, however, would storm back, getting on a late run of their own and evening the game at 40 points apiece before the first half buzzer sounded. 

John Carroll entered the game last in the league from outside the 3-point arc (27.4%), but knocked down 38 percent of their shots from that range in the opening half, two of which were hit by freshman guard Elissa Day.  The tough play in the paint by Spahar also propelled the offense, as her 14 points at the break led the squad. 

On the other side it was six-foot senior Brianna Peters who led the scoring for her team with 10 points and three rebounds by halftime.

Spahar's dominance continued after intermission, as she scored the first bucket of the half on a lay-up with 18:48 left to make it 42-40 JCU.  After a big three by freshman Emily Johanson and another bucket by Spahar, John Carroll was up four and gaining momentum.  Wilmignton held tough, though, and were able to grab the lead back with less than minutesto play. 

Trailing 67-64 with 3:30 left in regulations, JCU head coach Kristie Maravalli called a strategic timeout to try to form a defensive game plan, hoping to slow down the streaking Quaker offense.  Although the defense was effective, the Blue Streaks went cold down the stretch, and Wilmington put the finishing touches on a late rally to take the game. 

Missy Spahar recorded her ninth double-double of the season, racking up 22 points and 10 rebounds for her team while freshman Elissa Day had a strong performance with 12 points, just two shy of her career- high of 14. 

“I'm more of a defensive player so I try to work hard on defense and then get open on offense.  My shots were falling tonight, the screens were really working for me and I got a couple good shots off of screens,”  Day said after the game. 

Wilmington's scoring came from two main providers: senior Bria Eslick, who piled up 21 points, and Briana Peters, who finished with 24 of her own.  Combined, those two accounted for 16 of the team's 42 total rebounds and helped the Quakers notch win number 10 in the OAC.