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John Carroll University Athletics

home of the Blue Streaks
Shelby Ford
Maddie Sasfy
62
John Carroll JCU 10-2,10-2 OAC
70
Winner Otterbein OTT 8-4,8-4 OAC
John Carroll JCU
10-2,10-2 OAC
62
Final
70
Otterbein OTT
8-4,8-4 OAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
John Carroll JCU 17 12 15 18 62
Otterbein OTT 20 7 22 21 70

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Luke Potosky, Staff Writer

Blue Streaks Fall to Vengeful-Minded Cardinals in Regular Season Finale

WESTERVILLE, Ohio - After winning the Ohio Athletic Conference Regular Season Championship the night before, John Carroll University Women's Basketball had a chance to finish the regular season on a high note as they head into the OAC Tournament.

With that being said, both JCU and Otterbein had nothing to lose in their final regular-season contest as Otterbein came in losing six consecutive games to the Blue Streaks.

On Saturday, Feb. 27 at the Rike Center in Westerville, John Carroll fell to Otterbein by a score of 70-62, finishing 10-2 in the regular season.

In the first quarter, both teams were on fire from the field as both sides used strong offense to score more than 15 points apiece, but JCU found itself trailing 20-17 after one.

The second quarter, however, portrayed a far different picture as both teams' defenses stepped up to the challenge and made life difficult for the opposition. After one half of play, the Blue and Gold found themselves narrowly ahead 29-27.

As a team, the Blue Streaks were efficient by shooting 50% from the field and winning the rebound margin 26-12. However, by shooting 1/7 from three-point range and committing 16 first-half turnovers, the Cardinals remained in the game.

After being held to ten points the night before, Nicole Heffington was the catalyst for JCU in the first half with a team-leading 12 points. Olivia Nagy was a force to be reckoned with inside with her four points, seven rebounds, three assists, and three blocks. Dani Carlson also had four rebounds and two assists to spring the Blue Streaks to a two-point halftime lead.

The Cardinals were led at halftime by seven points and two steals apiece from Angelia Jackson and Tamia Hendrick.

To start the second half, the Cardinals came out and soared to new heights as they sprinted to a 20-4 run, putting the Blue Streaks in a 14 point deficit.

JCU, however, was quick to respond as they ended the quarter with an 11-2 run of their own, trimming Otterbein's lead to 49-44.

The Blue Streaks cut the deficit to two points early in the 4th quarter, but could never regain the lead.

Otterbein had an impressive performance shooting the ball and locking down on defense in the second half which opened their path to a 70-62 victory.

John Carroll shot 42% from the field, outrebounded Otterbein 45-38, outscored them 36-30 in points in the paint, and had nine blocks; all of which kept them in the ballgame.

But it was the Cardinals who celebrated their senior night on their home floor that came away leading the majority of categories.

They made seven three-pointers along with 15 of 24 free throws. On top of that, they forced 24 JCU turnovers, scored 30 points off of said turnovers, and forced JCU to commit 22 fouls (many of which came towards the end of the game).

The Blue Streaks were led tonight by Nicole Heffington (18 points, five rebounds, three steals), Olivia Nagy (17 points, 13 rebounds, four assists, six blocks), Dani Carlson (eight points, eight rebounds, three assists), and Abby Adler (seven points, four rebounds).

For the Cardinals, it was their four scorers in double figures who led the way. Angelia Jackson (18 points, eight rebounds, four steals), Abby Zerkle (17 points, four rebounds), Katie McCrary (15 points), and Tamia Kendrick (11 points, six rebounds, three steals) all gave the Blue Streaks defense trouble.

The win by Otterbein most likely gives them a home game in the first round of the OAC Tournament.

For John Carroll, the loss doesn't affect their position in the standings as they enter tournament play with the #1 overall seed as well as home-court advantage throughout tournament play.

As a result of tonight's contest, Otterbein goes into the OAC tournament on a high note, and John Carroll goes in as the top seed with a chip on its shoulder.

JCU opens up OAC Tournament play on Tuesday, Mar. 2, at the Tony DeCarlo Varsity Center against a team to be determined.
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