A team that finds themselves down by 20 points on the road could easily pack it in for the trip home. On Saturday afternoon, John Carroll women's basketball proved why they play four quarters.
JCU rallied from as many as 20 down to defeat the host Mount Union Purple Raiders, 90-83, in Alliance, Ohio.
Katlyn Spahar dropped a career-high 42 points on the day.
Bri Pittenger chipped in 16 points and
Sarah Cairnie added 15 points.
Spahar's previous career-high was 36 against Carnegie Mellon on Nov. 22, 2014.
The trio of Blue Streaks spurred an incredible fourth-quarter comeback in which the Blue Streaks outscored Mount Union 29-11. The third consecutive win improves JCU to 9-6, and 4-4 in OAC play. The Purple Raiders fall to 11-4, and 5-3 in the OAC.
Spahar accounted for seven of JCU's 13 first-quarter points including a deep three-pointer. The junior guard entered the day averaging 19.6 points per game, the second highest mark in the OAC. The Blue Streaks were able to hold opposing guard Annie Bova (20.0 ppg) to only two early points despite trailing by 13 points after one quarter.
The Blue Streaks continued to fight hard in the second quarter as they fought off a 20-point deficit to bring the margin to only nine by halftime. Pittenger and Cairnie provided an offensive spark in the rally with seven and six first-half points respectively. At the half, Mount Union led 45-36.
The third quarter was the most evenly matched period with Mount Union outscoring JCU by only two points. Katie Reed led the Purple Raiders with nine points in the third quarter and finished the day with 30 points. Bova also contributed with nine third quarter points. She finished with 15 points. Heading into the fourth quarter, John Carroll faced a 72-61 deficit.
Spahar's put on a show in the fourth quarter, clinching an historic afternoon with 17 points on a perfect 4-4 shooting and 7-of-8 from the free-throw line. The Blue Streaks held Mount Union to only 11 points. In the second and fourth quarters, JCU outscored its opposition 50-28.
Following today's contest, the Blue Streaks will play host to Baldwin Wallace on Wednesday at 7:30 pm inside the Tony DeCarlo Varsity Center.
