Box Score For the second time this season, the John Carroll University women's basketball couldn't quite manage to pull off a victory over Ohio Northern University at home.

This time, the loss hurts more, as the 80-71 decision ends JCU's OAC Tournament run at the semifinal round.

However, JCU's magical run this season is not necessarily over quite yet. The team could still receive an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, especially if Capital beats ONU in the OAC Championship game.

"Hopefully the full body of work is looked at," Morrone said. "We only lost to two teams this season, we had a great strength of schedule and we made a big turnaround from last year."

The prospect is certainly possible. The Blue Streaks play in the OAC, a premier and competitive conference. Plus the team has some of the best playmakers in the nation in Missy Spahar and Allie Lustig.

But tonight, the difference was rebounding. As Morrone pointed out, ONU held a big advantage on the boards, 43-27. The Polar Bears used the advantage to build up an early advantage, and while JCU came within three in the later stages of the game, the Polar Bears never relented the lead.

The first half was a defensive affair, as the teams traded turnovers and missed opportunities. While ONU held an advantage on the boards, 22-12, which the Polar Bears used to build a sizable lead.

Jordan Kimes and Cenzie Yoder provided almost all of ONU's offense, scoring a combined 26 of the team's 36 first half points. Of those 36 points in the first period, only eight were scored outside of the paint.

Kimes finished with 30 points and Yoder ended up with 15.

The Polar Bears started out strong to start the game, exploiting small holes in the JCU defense in the low post. ONU held an early 10-5 advantage, but JCU quickly battled back. The Blue and Gold put the pedal to the metal on offense, using points in transition to narrow the deficit. Lustig drained a 3-pointer with just over 12 minutes left in the half to bring the score to 17-16 ONU.

Neither team scored a bucket for the next three and a half minutes, as a pair of Missy Spahar free throws were JCU's only points scored over the lengthy span. Meghan Weber broke the dry spell for the Blue and Gold, hitting a layup with 6:48 remaining in the half.

Katlyn Spahar hit a 3-pointer with 3:03 remaining to give JCU a burst of momentum, but ONU responded with a quick bucket, making the score 27-23.

The teams continued to trade baskets in the remainder of the half. Emily Taylor buried a big trey with 58 seconds remaining, making it a one possession game, 31-28.

The Polar Bears ended the half on a high note, as Carly Thomas sank a 3-pointer as time expired in the period, granting ONU a 36-28 lead heading into halftime.

Missy Spahar was the leading scorer for the Blue Streaks at half with 13 points.

The Blue Streaks took the court with a renewed intensity as the second half began. Switzler sliced through the ONU defense for an easy layup on the team's first possession of the half.

A pair of 3-pointers from Sara Kocian and Kimes stole away whatever momentum JCU had built up. Three minutes into the half, the Polar Bears lead stood at 10.

ONU's pesky defense allowed the Polar Bears to keep the lead in double digits for a lengthy period of time. The Polar Bears even stretched the lead to 50-35 with 13:07 to play.

Lustig drained a 3-pointer on the next possession, but ONU seemed to answer every JCU basket with one of its own. Kimes connected on a 3-pointer from the corner with 11:46 left, boosting ONU's lead back to 15 points.

On JCU's next possession, the Blue Streaks made a dent in the ONU lead and got the crowd back into the game. Missy Spahar hit a layup and drew the foul, missed her free throw, but drew another foul, giving JCU another chance. Katlyn Spahar converted on the chance, driving the lane and bringing the score to 55-44.

Switzler brought the game to within nine a few minutes later, as JCU trailed 55-46 with 9:24 remaining. The junior scored again on the team's next possession, this time drilling a 3-pointer from the corner with the shot clock winding down. The trey sent the JCU faithful into a tizzy on and convinced ONU head coach Michele Durand to call a timeout with 8:56 left.

The DeCarlo Center started rocking even more as Lustig sank a 3-pointer from the left wing with 7:25 left. Switzler snatched the ball from an unaware Polar Bear on ONU's next possession and put away a layup, making it a one possession game, 59-56.

The Polar Bears used their advantage in the post on offense in the post to regain the momentum and extend the lead to 66-58 with 4:28 left. The Blue Streaks responded by utilizing the same strategy, drawing fouls by driving the lane.

A few ONU missed free throws and turnovers allowed JCU to inch closer. As the two minute mark approached, JCU trailed by just five, 70-65. Kaitlyn Thiesen hit a 3-pointer for ONU on its next possession, but Lustig responded immediately with one of her own.

But despite JCU's immediate responses, ONU held a 75-68 advantage with 1:05 left. But after a pair of ONU misses from the charity stripe and a Taylor trey, JCU trailed by just four with 46 seconds to play.

The Polar Bears did not miss on their next two possessions, extending the lead to 79-71. The Blue Streaks could not respond on their next possessions, allowing ONU to walk away with the win.

"I love the way our team played in the second half," Morrone said.

Missy Spahar led the Blue and Gold with 19 points, while Lustig was not far behind with 14 points to go along with five assists.