As part of the growing process, the John Carroll University women's basketball team took another giant step forward in the 2018-19 season by scoring the final six points of the game to knock off red-hot Otterbein, 72-66, in Westerville Wednesday night.

The host Cardinals had won six consecutive games entering play tonight after an 0-5 start, but the visiting Blue Streaks had the answer late to snap Otterbein's winning ways.

With the score tied at 66-66, Nicole Heffington calmly drained a three-point field goal from the top of the key off a pass from Kahrin Spear to unlock the deadlock with 57 ticks left in regulation.

From there, Spear (1-2) and Abby Adler (2-2) -- along with three defensive stops -- would seal the win with free throws in the final 30 seconds for the Blue Streaks' first victory in the Rike Center since January 14, 2015.

The first quarter would give no indication how close this contest would become. Otterbein made three three-point field goals as part of a high scoring opening period to take a 21-10 lead. But JCU would rally, and pulled to within a single point at halftime. Otterbein would take a 37-36 advantage to the locker room.

John Carroll would take its first lead of the game on a Dani Carlson three ball with 6;32 to play in the third quarter, making the score 46-45, but Otterbein still held the lead at 52-50 entering the final period of play.

The Blue Streaks burst out of the gates in the fourth, scoring the first five points as part of a 10-2 run that gave John Carroll a 60-54 lead with 6:36 remaining. The Cardinals, however, would recover, and tied the game at 64 and 66 before JCU finished out on a 6-0 run.

John Carroll (8-4, 4-1 OAC) was led by Heffington, who scored a game-high 25 points, 20 of which were tallied in the second half. Heffington and Olivia Nagy (who was making her first appearance since November 20) each had a game-high eight rebounds, while Spear had a career-best nine assists.

Otterbein (6-6, 2-3 OAC) was paced by Ali Cartnal's 22 points.

JCU will host Wilmington Saturday, January 5, at 3:00 p.m.