The race to the end has started as the 22nd-ranked John Carroll University women's basketball team returned to Ohio Athletic Conference play on Wednesday evening inside the Tony DeCarlo Varsity Center.
 
Behind a balanced effort with all five starters in double figures John Carroll topped Capital 83-65.
 
Senior Meghan Weber led the way for John Carroll with a career-best 25 points. The forward was 7-of-9 from the field and a stellar 10-of-12 at the free throw line.
 
Capital jumped out to a quick 7-4 lead before John Carroll utilized a 7-0 run to open up an 11-7 lead with 15:33 remaining in the half. The Blue Streaks remained in front for the duration of the game but could not gain much separation until the second half.
 
A 7-0 run from Capital tied the game at 24. Reining OAC Women's Basketball Player of the Week Shmoo Pryor responded with four straight points to spark 12-0 run over the ensuing 2:32 to open up a 36-24 lead for the Blue and Gold.
 
Layups from Katlyn Spahar and Weber pushed John Carroll's lead back to 12 at 44-32 to start the second half.
 
Capital just John Carroll's lead to four at 60-56 on Shelby Sigman's layup with 8:21 remaining.
 
An 8-0 run from the Blue Streaks pushed John Carroll's lead back to 12 with 6:23 remaining. Weber capped the run with her fifth field goal of the night to reach 16 points, one better than her old career-best of 15 set against Adrian back in November.
 
Capital's Jenna Erwin made it a nine-point game with 3:10 remaining. John Carroll answered right back with a 9-0 run to make it an 18-point Blue Streak advantage.
 
Senior Beth Switzler recorded her third double-double of the year with 12 rebounds and 10 points. Pryor (14), Spahar (13) and Emily Taylor (10) rounded out the Blue Streaks in double figures.
 
John Carroll improved to 11-1, 4-1 OAC with the win. Capital fell to 6-6, 2-3 OAC.
 
John Carroll returns to the road with a 3 p.m. contest at Muskingum on Saturday, Jan. 10.