Turnovers and a slow start created an insurmountable deficit that the John Carroll women's basketball team could not overcome on Wednesday night in Westerville, Ohio.

The Blue Streaks (3-11, 1-6 OAC) turned the ball over 20 times en route to their 88-63 defeat at the hands of Otterbein (7-7, 3-4 OAC).

John Carroll's fate was sealed early when Otterbein stormed out of the gates and quickly built a double digit lead. Paced by guard Ali Cartnal, who finished with 24 points, the Cardinals led 21-8 after the opening ten minutes.

An undaunted Blue Streaks team came out fighting in the second quarter. After Otterbein had pushed the lead up to 17 points, John Carroll rode the strong play of junior forward Chelbi Graham to cut the hosts lead down to five (32-27) at the 3:30 mark of the period.

Otterbein, however, closed the half on an 8-2 run to take a 40-27 advantage into the locker room.

On the heels of outscoring Otterbein, 21-19, in the second quarter, John Carroll hoped to continue that momentum, but the Cardinals unleashed 27 points over the next ten minutes to put the game out of reach. The home team led by as many as 28 before securing a 25-point win.

Graham finished the game with 15 points (11 in the first half) and five rebounds. Junior guard Kahrin Spear finished the game with a career-high eight assists (against only two turnovers) to go with six points, two rebounds and two steals in 28 minutes.

John Carroll will come back home for a 3 pm matchup against Wilmington (8-6, 3-4 OAC) on Saturday, January 13.