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John Carroll University Athletics

home of the Blue Streaks
Sarah Balfour
Tim Phillis, News Herald
Sarah Balfour tied her season-high with nine points, six of which came in the fourth quarter.
54
Winner John Carroll JCU 9-2,4-1 OAC
49
Ohio Northern ONU 9-3,3-2 OAC
Winner
John Carroll JCU
9-2,4-1 OAC
54
Final
49
Ohio Northern ONU
9-3,3-2 OAC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
John Carroll JCU 17 7 16 14 54
Ohio Northern ONU 10 17 14 8 49

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Noah Tylutki, Graduate Assistant

Blue Streaks Ring In New Year With Key Road Victory Over Ohio Northern

ADA, Ohio -- A dictionary definition of a New Year's resolution is a promise to do something differently in the new year.

While closing out the year 2021 losing two of its last three games, the John Carroll Women's Basketball team rang in their resolution of getting back on the right track as they defeated Ohio Athletic Conference foe Ohio Northern 54-49 on the road in their first game of 2022.

Entering the game, the Blue Streaks had not played a game in 18 days after their contests against Hiram and Heidelberg were canceled.  JCU had also only beaten ONU in three of their last 13 meetings in Ada.

With the Polar Bears missing three starters, John Carroll started the game on fire with a 10-1 advantage while playing stout defense, allowing its first field goal 4:21 into the game.

A Nicole Heffington three pointer and two Abby Adler free throws extended the Blue Streaks' lead to 17-4.  However, three costly JCU turnovers aided to ONU's 6-0 run to end the first quarter with John Carroll ahead 17-10.  

After a Polar Bear basket, Jaylen Hoffmann's triple extended JCU's lead 20-12 early in the second.  ONU then proceeded to go on a 10-0 run and take their first lead of the game 22-20 on a Jaidyn Hale three pointer with 3:45 left in the half.

While JCU clawed back and tied the game twice, the Polar Bears scored five in a row to take a 27-24 lead into the locker room while outscoring the Blue Streaks 17-7 in the stanza.

ONU continued their momentum into the second half as Hale scored the first five points of the half to extend their lead 32-24.  John Carroll then started to spark offensively as they went on a 9-0 run to tie the game 33-33.  

After both teams traded three pointers, ONU's Kasey Knippen hit another triple while Adler and Hoffmann closed the Polar Bear advantage to 41-40 at the end of the third.

On the Blue Streaks' first shot of the fourth quarter, Adler fired in a three pointer to take a 43-41 lead-their first since 4:57 left in the first half.

ONU's Kate Iliff knotted the game less than a minute later, but JCU took control and scored 11 of the contest's final 17 points including nine in a row to close out their first win in Ada since 2019.

"ONU is always a tough team and place to play," Blue Streaks head coach Beth Andrews said.  "Overall, I was proud of our defensive focus in the fourth quarter and was happy to finally be playing a game."

Olivia Nagy led the way for John Carroll with 13 points, 17 rebounds, and six blocks while Heffington recorded 12 points and six rebounds.  Sarah Balfour also tied a season-high with nine points, six of which came in JCU's key fourth quarter run.

The Blue Streaks shot 31.7% from the field, their lowest of the season.  The tally marked the lowest field goal percentage JCU has had in a conference road victory since January 13, 2010 when they defeated Heidelberg 61-54 in Tiffin.

Hale had a career-high 19 points for Ohio Northern while the team shot a season-high 57.1% from beyond the arc.  Free throws were the Achilles heel for the Polar Bears as they shot a season-low 35.7% from the charity stripe.

The game marked only the second time JCU has ever allowed less than 50 points against the Polar Bears in Ada and have won eight of their last 11 meetings against ONU.

John Carroll will look to remain undefeated in the new calendar year as they will travel to Otterbein on Wednesday, January 12.  Tip-off is scheduled for 7pm.
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