Women's Basketball pulls out 59-58 victory at #20 John Carroll
By Scott Beaton
UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS — With the game tied and 2.3 seconds to play, senior Abby Weeks (West Chester/Mount Notre Dame) split a pair of free throws to lift the Ohio Northern women's basketball team over No. 20-ranked John Carroll, 59-58, inside the Decarlo Center on Saturday afternoon.
The Polar Bears (17-6 overall, 11-5 Ohio Athletic Conference) completed its regular-season sweep of the Blue Streaks (19-4 overall, 13-3 OAC).
Northern was led by senior Emily Mescher (Maria Stein/Marion Local), who posted her sixth career double-double—pouring in 16 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.
Senior Jaclyn Yankle (Youngstown/Cardinal Mooney) went 3-for-4 from 3-point range en route to scoring 11 points. Sophomore Jaidyn Hale (Lima/Bath) had a solid all-around statline with eight points, eight rebounds, four assists, and two steals.
JCU started hot, leading 19-12 eight minutes in. The Polar Bears then held the Blue Streaks scoreless for the next 5:10, before JCU tied the game at 20-20 with 6:52 to go in the second quarter.
A steal and lay-up by sophomore Annie Weckesser (Dayton/Chaminade-Julienne) gave ONU its largest lead of the afternoon, 30-23 at the half.
ONU trailed 40-39 after the third quarter.
The Polar Bears responded to lead 58-55 with 16 seconds left. ONU then fouled JCU on a 3-pointer, resulting in three made free throws to tie the game at 58-58 before Weeks ultimately drew a foul and split the free throws to give Northern the win.
Ohio Northern was 22-for-58 (37.9%) from the floor and 7-for-20 (35.0%) from 3-point land while John Carroll was 21-for-60 (35.0%) overall and 6-for-18 (33.3%) from deep.
ONU edged JCU on glass, 39-38.
Ohio Northern has clinched a home game in the OAC Tournament.
The Polar Bears return the court Wednesday at Heidelberg at 7 p.m.