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John Carroll University Athletics

home of the Blue Streaks
Nicci Finazzo at Denison 2-14-26
Peter Wangechi
Nicci Finazzo
50
John Carroll JCU 20-3,9-3 NCAC
57
Winner Denison Den 22-1,11-1 NCAC
John Carroll JCU
20-3,9-3 NCAC
50
Final
57
Denison Den
22-1,11-1 NCAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
John Carroll JCU 22 12 6 10 50
Denison Den 18 8 20 11 57

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Joe Ginley '16, SID

#9 Women's Basketball Drops to #8 Denison University on the Road

The Blue Streaks scuffled in the third quarter in a battle of top NCAC teams

GRANVILLE, Ohio – In an anticipated showdown between top-10 teams from the tough North Coast Athletic Conference, #9 John Carroll Women's Basketball stumbled in the second half. 

#8 Denison University dominated the third quarter while winning the rebounding battle to secure the crucial victory between two of the top teams in the conference. 

With the 57-50 loss, the Blue Streaks dropped to 9-3 in league play (20-3 overall). Denison and Ohio Wesleyan are tied at 11-1 with two games to play, including one against each other. So, JCU is eliminated from title contention and is locked into the #3 seed in the NCAC Tournament. 

The opening stanza of the top 10 showdown featured plenty of back-and-forth action. Importantly for JCU, Ava Ryncarz got going early, hitting a pair of 3-pointers. Graci Semptimphelter also started out strong with a triple, and a Brooke Laub make from downtown sent JCU into the media timeout with a 16-15 lead. 

The visitors finished the quarter on a 6-2 run, including a rare 4-point play by Laub. JCU carried a 22-18 lead into the second. 

The ensuing 10 minutes did not feature as much offense, though John Carroll found more ways to get to the bucket. Nicci Finazzo started having an impact driving to the lane, and Carly Perusek got points on the board as well. JCU felt in control of the outcome heading into half, 34-26.

The tides turned in the third. After a Laub driving layup in the first minute, JCU lost all rhythm. The Big Red capitalized on the opportunity with an 11-0 run, causing JCU to call a timeout at 5:52, suddenly trailing. 

Finazzo finally ended the scoring drought after six minutes. The Big Red enjoyed a 46-40 margin after three thanks to a driving Semptimphelter layup late. Six turnovers combined with 3-of-16 shooting hurt JCU in the third. Banged up in the paint, JCU lost rebounding battles that became impactful. 

The Blue Streaks hit a couple shots early in the fourth, as good passing led to good looks for Kaylie McKenney and Ryncarz to make it a one score game. But Denison replied a 5-0 mini run. Finazzo stemmed the tide with two free throws, but JCU trailed entering the 5-minute media timeout, 51-46. 

Coming out of the break, Denison drew a foul and made two free throws. McKenney made a pair of layups in response, the latter slimming the deficit to 53-50 with 3:39 to play. But the Blue Streaks went cold again, with five misses and two turnovers in the final three and a half minutes. The Big Red converted on a pair of shots in the final 90 seconds to salt away the game. 

Ava Ryncarz led the scoring with 12 points on 5-of-13 shooting. Graci Semptimphelter tabbed a team-best 8 rebounds and 3 steals.

As a team, JCU shot just 31.8% and lost the rebounding battle, 46-31. Denison scored 22 second-chance points. 

Next Up
The Blue Streaks will have a chance to get back on track on Wednesday. JCU hosts Oberlin College (7-16, 3-9 NCAC) at 7:05 pm on Wednesday at the Tony DeCarlo Varsity Center. JCU will then host Wittenberg on Saturday, February 21 at 1:05 pm to wrap up the regular season.  
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