JCU women clinch OAC championship

In a season of unprecedented times, John Carroll women’s basketball coach Beth Andrews had two words to best describe her team:

“Resiliency and urgency.”

Well said by Andrews, and fitting.

With one game to play in this shortened regular season of COVID-19, the Blue Streaks clinched the Ohio Athletic Conference title on Feb. 26 with a 7861 win over visiting Otterbein.

JCU improved to 10-1, and will be the No. 1 seed in the upcoming OAC women’s tournament and host throughout.

The Blue Streaks outscored the Cardinals, 248, in the second quarter and that proved to be the difference.

On most nights, JCU’s top two scorers are either Nicole Heffington of Mentor or Olivia Nagy but on this night senior Abby Adler was the main scorer with 23 points on 8 of 12 shooting. Dani Carlson had 16 points, Nagy 13 points and 11 rebounds and Heffington 10 points, four rebounds and five assists.

“The seniors are starting to realize the end is near, and they’re are looking for their chances,” said Andrews on Adler’s big night. “She’s more than capable and thinks pass first but her hard work showed tonight.”

The teams finish the regular season in Columbus with tip-off at 6 p.m.

Men win in overtime

The JCU men had to go to overtime, but it evened its record at 3-3 with an 85-78 win at Otterbein.

The Blue Streaks overcame a 10-point deficit with five minutes to play in regulation. With 53 seconds remaining in the second half, Jackson Sartain’s 3-pointer tied the game at 73, and eventually forced OT.

Four players were in double-figures scoring, led by Sartain’s 20 points and five rebounds. He made five 3-pointers.

Eric Hanna added 13 points, and Mason Trubisky (Mentor) had 12 points and five rebounds. Center Emmett Chambers scored 10 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.

The Blue Sreaks will try to get above .500 for the season when it hosts Otterbein Feb. 26 at 6 p.m.

“The seniors are starting to realize the end is near, and they’re are looking for their chances.” JCU women’s coach Beth Andrews