After defeating Bluffton on the road in overtime earlier in the week, the Blue Streaks hope to carry those good feelings into hostile territory again as they traveled down to Marietta to face the defending league champions in their Ohio Athletic Conference opener.

Unfortunately, the momentum did not carry over as the host Pioneers defeated John Carroll 81-65.

The Blue Streaks only trailed by four points at the end of the first quarter, but Marietta kept up the pressure and pushed the lead up to 11 as the first half ended. The Pioneers aided their cause shooting 50 percent from the field in the half.

For all intents and purposes, the outcome of the game was decided in the opening 5:03 of the third period. The Pioneers came out of the locker room on a 13-1 run and never looked back.

The Blue Streaks struggled with maintaining possession of the ball throughout the game as they turned it over 23 times compared to Marietta's 15. The Pioneers took advantage as they scored 30 of their points off of JCU's turnovers.

Kahrin Spear lead John Carroll (3-3, 0-1 OAC) with 13 points and four assists and Nicole Heffington added 11 points and five rebounds. Chelbi Graham also chipped in six points and five rebounds.

Five different players scored in double figures for Marietta (5-1, 2-0 OAC), led by a 20 point, 10 rebound, and five steal effort from Corrie Burkhardt and 13 points from Cheyenne Barker.

John Carroll will host  Mount Union in their OAC home opener on Wednesday.