Following a lengthy finals week, the John Carroll University women's basketball traveled to Marietta College on Saturday afternoon.

The road matchup did not end as planned, as defensive struggles in the second half sunk the Blue Streaks in a 88-76 loss to the Pioneers at Ban Johnson Arena.

With the loss, the Blue Streaks fall to 5-4 overall and 1-3 in Ohio Athletic Conference play.

Katlyn Spahar spearheaded the JCU offense, leading the visitors with 24 points. The junior also added 11 rebounds in the losing effort, her highest total of the season. The double-double marked Spahar's first of the season.

The Pioneers started quickly, jumping out to a 12-6 lead halfway through the first quarter. A pair of Bri Pittenger jumpers and Kelsey Poplawski free throws placed the Blue Streaks within three points, 17-14, heading into the second quarter.

Coming out of the break, Marietta built up an eight point lead, but an 8-0 JCU run erased the Pioneers' advantage.

The Blue Streaks and Pioneers traded shots midway through the second quarter before Pittenger and Spahar scored to grant JCU a 39-35 lead with 1:40 left in the half.

The Blue and Gold kept up the pressure in the final two minutes, taking a 43-37 advantage heading into the second half, outscoring the Pioneers 29-20 in the second quarter.

The third quarter saw a reverse of fortunes, as the Pioneers started to figure out the JCU offense. Marietta scored 25 in the third against only 13 JCU points. Corrie Burkhardt led the way for the Pioneers with eight points in the quarter. Marietta held a 62-56 lead heading into the final quarter.

The Pioneers sealed the deal in the fourth, taking a double-digit lead with 7:22 left on the Shay Lett layup. Marietta did not let the lead drop below 10 for the rest of the game.

Morgan Liedtke led the Pioneers with 20 points on the day, while Jo Herd-Middlebrooks notched a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds.

For JCU, Bri Pittenger posted a career-high 21 points, shooting 10-of-16 from the field. Shmoo Pryor also had a solid day with 10 points and five rebounds. As a team, JCU shot 46.1% from the floor.

The Blue Streaks return to action on Tuesday, as JCU travels to Capital University for a 1 p.m. matchup in Columbus, Ohio.