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John Carroll University Athletics

home of the Blue Streaks
Graci Semptimphelter vs. Denison
Jose Figueroa
Graci Semptimphelter
58
Winner Denison Den 16-0,5-0 NCAC
41
John Carroll JCU 14-2,3-2 NCAC
Winner
Denison Den
16-0,5-0 NCAC
58
Final
41
John Carroll JCU
14-2,3-2 NCAC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Denison Den 13 17 13 15 58
John Carroll JCU 14 9 14 4 41

Next Game:

at Oberlin College

1/21/2026 | 6:00 PM

Next Game

Full Schedule
Jan. 21 (Wed) / 6:00 PM
at Oberlin College
History

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Jack Stephens, Staff Writer

Cold Shooting Causes #10 Women's Basketball to Stall vs. #15 Denison

In a battle of top 25 squads, the Blue Streaks faltered against a stout Big Red defense

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS — The #15 ranked Denison Big Red (16-0, 5-0 NCAC) stood tall on the road, thanks to cold shooting and turnovers by #10 John Carroll Blue Streaks (14-2, 3-2 NCAC). 

The stakes couldn't get much higher than this in-season matchup as two top 15 squads in the country battle it out for top positioning in the NCAC, one of the best conferences for women's basketball. JCU came into this game ranked 10th in the country and winners of their last nine. Denison started the season 15-0 and atop the NCAC and ranked 15th in the D3hoops.com Women's Poll.

JCU's winning streak came to a close at the Tony DeCarlo Varsity Center in a 58-41 decision that was close for most of the way. 

Denison started the afternoon strong with solid defense. Senior guard Graci Semptimphelter erupted the crowd, draining a triple quickly followed by back-to-back buckets by Kaylie McKenney. Not to be outdone, the Big Red followed with layups by Violet Mitchell and Adelyn Moore to put them ahead briefly. Denison held a 10-9 advantage into the first media timeout. 

There would only be three made baskets in the final five minutes as a three from JCU's Ava Ryncarz and a jumper from Nicci Finazzo put the Blue Streaks ahead by one going into the second quarter.

The Big Red came out of the gates hot, as after a JCU bucket Denison would connect on three consecutive layups and hold the Blue Streaks scoreless for nearly three minutes. That would end off a jumper from McKenney. Momentum would begin to swing in favor of John Carroll, as Brooke Laub drew a charge on the other end, but it would be short lived. 

After the media timeout, the Big Red would claim their largest lead of the game so far at 24-18 off a pair of free throws from Ada Taute. Carly Perusek got the Blue Streaks right back into the ballgame with two free throws and a layup to make it a one possession game. On the other end, Morgan Kress ended the run with a layup. Quickly after a jump ball game possession back to the Big Red, Violet Mitchell scored her sixth point off a nice post move. After Carmen Heuker split a pair from the line, Abby Cooch made a heavily contested layup with less than a second remaining to put Denison up 30-23 at the break.

Violet Mitchell, Perusek and McKenney tied the game high with six points. Ava Ryncarz had a slow start shooting 1-for-5 from the field and only 3 points, but she grabbed seven boards. 

The defensive back-and-forth continued as into the first five minutes of the third, the squads combined to shoot 2-for-15 into the first media timeout. The struggle would end as Semptimphelter drained her second three of the night to make it a four point game. After Denison started one-for-17 from long range, Adelyn Moore answered Semptimphelter to bring the lead up to seven at 37-30. 

Semptimphelter's great night continued as she converted a massive three point play to cut it to five. After trading free throws down the stretch of the third, Abby Cooch once again made a layup in the draining seconds to put the Big Red up 43-37 into the final period. 

Both teams fell into a full court pressure defense which pumped up the defensive intensity to a ten as three and a half minutes into the game there had only been two points scored. Denison would score the first three points all from free throws. After going scoreless for five minutes, Brooke Laub finally broke the ice for JCU with a left handed layup. 

After a few minutes of trading baskets, Denison's Abby Cooch continued her effective performance with a three in the face of a Blue Streak defender to give the Big Red their first double-digit lead of the afternoon. Quickly after a JCU miss, Mitchell got around her defender and swished a layup forcing a Blue Streak timeout. Anelly Mad-toingué followed with a layup of her own which was the dagger for the Big Red. 

Abby Cooch led the way with 11 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals, an all-around impressive performance. Graci Semptimphelter tied for the game high with 11 points. Carly Perusek and Ava Ryncarz combined for 29 rebounds in the losing effort.

Up Next
The Blue Streaks will be back in action on Wednesday as they hit the road to take on the Oberlin Yeowomen at 6pm. 
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Players Mentioned

Nicci Finazzo

#5 Nicci Finazzo

PG
5' 5"
Sophomore
Carmen Heuker

#00 Carmen Heuker

G
5' 6"
Senior
Brooke Laub

#30 Brooke Laub

G
5' 7"
Junior
Kaylie McKenney

#22 Kaylie McKenney

SF
5' 10"
Senior
Carly Perusek

#24 Carly Perusek

G/F
5' 9"
Senior
Ava Ryncarz

#33 Ava Ryncarz

G/F
5' 9"
Senior
Graci Semptimphelter

#14 Graci Semptimphelter

SG
5' 6"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Nicci Finazzo

#5 Nicci Finazzo

5' 5"
Sophomore
PG
Carmen Heuker

#00 Carmen Heuker

5' 6"
Senior
G
Brooke Laub

#30 Brooke Laub

5' 7"
Junior
G
Kaylie McKenney

#22 Kaylie McKenney

5' 10"
Senior
SF
Carly Perusek

#24 Carly Perusek

5' 9"
Senior
G/F
Ava Ryncarz

#33 Ava Ryncarz

5' 9"
Senior
G/F
Graci Semptimphelter

#14 Graci Semptimphelter

5' 6"
Senior
SG

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