After losing their first two conference match-ups, the John Carroll women's basketball team knew losing to Wilmington College was not an option.
John Carroll \defeated Wilmington by a 70-61 score on Saturday afternoon in the DeCarlo Varsity Center to earn their first OAC conference win of the 2015-16 campaign.
Six Blue Streaks scored eight or more points in the win.
Junior Katlyn Spahar recorded 15 points and five rebounds in the contest. She now sits at 999 career points, one shy of becoming the 14th player in the history of John Carroll women's basketball to reach 1,000.
Trailing almost the whole game, the Blue Streaks were able to change the momentum late in the third quarter thanks to a buzzer-beating three-pointer by Spahar.
The Quakers dominated in the first half, making eight three-pointers and outrebounding the Blue Streaks 24-16. The Blue Streaks struggled to contain the Quakers quick transition offense.
However, the John Carroll offense finally came alive late in the third quarter.
On three occasions in the third period, the visiting Quakers pushed their lead to 13 points but could not put the Blue Streaks away. Down 46-33 with 6:02 left in the quarter, JCU began to climb back in. A 15-6 run to close the third -- capped by a Spahar three-point field goal at the buzzer -- put the Blue Streaks in position to contend.
John Carroll began the fourth trailing bu just three points, 51-48.
At the start of the fourth, John Carroll's shots started to fall and they quickly gained the lead. The Blue Streaks grabbed their first lead since the six minute mark of the first quarter when Spahar's lay-up with 9:21 to play gave the home team a 52-51 lead. The Quakers answered back with a quick basket of their own, but a basket by Bri Pittenger gave the Blue Streaks the lead for good at 54-53 with 7:25 left.
Back-to back baskets by Sarah Cairnie jump started an 11-2 run that was capped by a three-pointer by freshman Kahrin Spear with 3:15 left to play, and the Blue Streaks found themselves with a 10-point lead, 65-55.
Sophomore Sarah Cairnie's three offensive rebounds in the fourth quarter were a major factor to allow John Carroll to take and maintain the lead the rest of the game.
John Carroll (5-3, 1-2 OAC) shot a blistering 17-30 (.567) from the field over the final 20 minutes, while holding the Quakers to 9-25 (.360) over the same stretch and forcing 15 Wilmington turnovers. JCU outscored Wilmington 43-23 in the second half.
Wilmington's Brittaney Jefferson contributed 16 points for the Quakers, which fell to 2-4 overall and 1-2 in OAC play.
The Blue Streaks will visit Marietta College on December 19 at 3:00 p.m.
