Blue Streaks prevail in OAC rivalry battle

Heffington tallies 22 for Blue Streaks

Sophomore forward Nicole Heffington and her John Carroll University teammates have considerable potential.

They showed plenty of promise Dec. 5 in a 61-58 victory over previously unbeaten Mount Union at the DeCarlo Varsity Center.

Heffington finished with a game-high 22 points and team-high eight rebounds as the Blue Streaks improved to 4-3 overall and 1-1 in Ohio Athletic Conference.

“Coming off a tough loss, that was awesome,” Heffington said. “We showed the OAC we are in this thing. We have talent.”

The Mentor High School product was referring to an 81-65 road loss to firstplace Marietta on Dec. 1.

Sophomore guard Abbie Adler added 10 points. She cashed in two free throws with 12 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to cement the victory.

Senior guard Rachel Tinkey paced Mount Union with 15 points. The Purple Raiders slipped to 6-1 overall and 1-1 in the OAC.

JCU coach Kelly Morrone said the win was all the sweeter because it came against a traditional rival.

“These games (against Mount Union) are so emotional, so physically and emotionally exhausting,” Morrone said. “We needed this one.”

This one seemed destined to go down to the wire and did.

From a 32-32 deadlock at halftime, JCU pushed out to a 50-41 lead after three quarters. The Purple Raiders erased that deficit in the fourth quarter. They moved ahead, 58-55, on a Tinkey jumper with 1:50 remaining.

JCU made it 58-57 on a driving layup by senior forward Chelbi Graham (Solon). The Blue Streaks took the lead at 59-58 on two free throws by junior guard Dani Carlsopn with 48.5 seconds remaining.

After the basket by Graham, and around the free throws by Carlson and Adler, the Blue Streaks got three defensive stops to enable the satisfying home victory.

“We’re learning how to play to win instead of playing not to lose,” Heffington said. “Everybody was all in on those stops.”

The Blue Streaks return to action on Dec. 8 in Muskingum. Tipoff is 3 p.m.