Automatic

“We knew John Carroll would come out aggressive. So our goal starting the game was to be even more aggressive,” Fecht said. “We were able to do that and stay on top the rest of the way.”

Fecht was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

Last season, the Yellow Jackets lost in the tournament semifinals and got into the NCAA Division III tournament courtesy of an at-large bid. This time around, they’ll monitor the announcement of the 64team field on March 2 secure in the knowledge they are guaranteed a spot.

“It’s so much sweeter getting in this way. All the hard work paid off,” Fecht said, smiling.

This was the seventh OAC tourney title for veteran BW coach Cheri Harrer and her it’s the 15th time in 30 seasons her team is headed to the NCAA tournament.

“It never gets old for me and you can be sure it will never get old for them,” Harrer said, pointing to her players as they cut down the net.

Junior forward Nicole Heffington (Mentor) posted team-high totals of 17 points and eight rebounds for the Blue Streaks, now 23-5 and hoping to earn at at-large bid to the NCAA Division III tournament.

Junior forward Abby

Adler scored 15 points in a losing cause. Sophomore center Olivia Nagy added 14 points.

BW junior forward Sydney Diedrich (Gilmour) scored 12 points and senior guard senior guard Riley Schill (Elyria Catholic) finished with 10 points and a game-high seven assists.

Senior guard Kara Marshall added 10 points as the Yellow Jackets shot 47.2 percent from the field overall and 50 percent from 3-point range.

The Yellow Jackets had leads of 40-25 at halftime and 62-42 after three quarters.

“It felt like they made every shot they took in that first quarter,” JCU coach Kelly Morrone said after the Blue Streaks fell short in defense of the OAC tourney title they won last season.

“We didn’t keep our composure and never got our legs under us in the first quarter,” Morrone added.

JCU came into the title game ranked 25th in the d3hoops.com poll..

“Hopefully, our body of work gets us into the (NCAA) tournament,” Morrone said.

“It’s so much sweeter getting in this way. All the hard work paid off.” — Baldwin Wallace’s Hannah Fecht on earning an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament