A late run was the difference as the John Carroll women's basketball fell to Oberlin, 59-53, in the final game of the 2018 Tip-Off Tournament sponsored by the Winking Lizard Tavern.

Sophomore Nicole Heffington led JCU with a double-double of 12 points and 15 rebounds, while freshman Olivia Nagy contributed 11 of her own along with six boards. The Blue Streaks ended the night shooting 32.3% from the floor and forced 26 turnovers.

Olivia Canning led Oberlin with 17 points and 14 rebounds. The Yeowomen, an NCAA Tournament team from a year ago, went 32.0% from the floor but hit five three-pointers. Leah Ross went 4-for-6 from beyond-the-arc, notching 16 points.

Regan Stonerock of Capital University was named MVP of the tournament. Capital went 2-0 on the weekend, John Carroll and Oberlin went 1-1, and Hiram finished 0-2.

All-Tournament Team

• Regan Stonerock, Capital (MVP)
• Elle Folan, Capital
• Alainna Conroy, Hiram
• Nicole Heffington, John Carroll
• Olivia Canning, Oberlin

Both teams had slow starts out of the gate, with JCU holding a 10-8 advantage heading into the second quarter. JCU warmed up from the field in the second, shooting 41.7% on the way to a three-point advantage at the half.

The third quarter saw Oberlin seize control in the early minutes, as multiple three-pointers from Ross energized the traveling faithful and forced the Blue Streaks to work from behind. A late shift to full-court press disrupted the Oberlin momentum. JCU regained the lead at the end of the third as junior Sarah Sprecher beat the buzzer with a three-pointer to take a 41-39 lead.

John Carroll jumped out to a four-point lead early in the fourth, punctuated by a Dani Carlson three-pointer. Following an Oberlin timeout with 6:21 remaining, the Yeowomen sustained a 12-2 run over the next four minutes to force a JCU timeout with 2:02 to play. It was the seventh and final lead change of the night.

John Carroll returns to action on Tuesday, when Pitt-Bradford visits the DeCarlo Varsity Center at 6:00 p.m.