JCU led by Mentor graduate Blue Streaks are deeper, more experienced

John Carroll women’s basketball coach Kelly Morrone is banking on a deeper, more talented roster to improve on last season’s 8-18 finish.

The Blue Streaks open the 2018-19 season against Hiram on Nov. 16 at 8 p.m. in the Tipoff Tournament at DeCarlo Varsity Center.

“I really like our depth,” said Morrone, who brought in 11 freshman recruits this year and nine last year.

“Freshmen don’t know what they don’t know,” Morrone added, smiling. “There is a huge learning curve. By the end of last season, those freshmen started believing.”

Nicole Heffington, a 5-foot-10 forward-center from Mentor High School, was one of last season’s newcomers.

Heffington made an immediate and substantial impact. Starting all 26 games, she averaged teamhigh totals of 16.3 points and 7.6 rebounds. In addition to being named OAC Freshman of the Year, she earned OAC First Team honors.

This season, Morrone expects her sophomore post to be “in the discussion” for OAC Player of the Year.

“Nicole just keeps getting better and better,” Morrone said. “She is super competitive and harder on herself than I could ever be.”

Four seniors will be counted on to provide steady production and leadership. They are guards Shmoo Pryor and Kahrin Spear (Chardon) and forwards Chelbi Graham (Solon) and Bri Pittenger (Norwalk Edison).

Pryor elected not to play last season after averaging 15.7 points per game as a sophomore. Graham averaged 10.7 points and 7.1 rebounds last season.

Other prime candidates for playing time are junior guards Sarah Sprecher (Avon) and Dani Carlson, sophomore forward Abbi Adler and sophomore guard Sara Spicer.

Of the incoming freshmen, 6-2 center Olivia Nagy (Lakewood) and guard Leslie Aguilar are the most likely candidates for playing time.

While the other newcomers may not get get into games that often at the outset of the season, Morrone said they are making their presence felt in practice.

“The atmosphere is bigger, faster and stronger,” Morrone said. “Every day in practice is like game day.”

JCU was picked to finish sixth in the OAC preseason poll.

PHOTO COURTESY JOHN CARROLL UNIVERSITY Nicole Heffington, a Mentor grad, was named OAC freshman of the year last season.