UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio - A 12-0 run to open the second half propelled John Carroll University (JCU) to an 80-59 victory over the Wilmington College women's basketball team in Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) action on Saturday afternoon.
John Carroll took a 15-9 lead seven minutes into the game, but triples from Michelle Lee, Hannah Binkley and Kelly Noll on consecutive possessions put the visiting Quakers on top 18-15. Wilmington would lead 20-19 after one quarter, but a 7-2 spurt from JCU put the hosts up 26-22 early in the second quarter. After Wilmington got within two (29-27) two minutes later, the Blue Streaks scored eight straight putting them on top 37-27 with four minutes to play in the first half.
Wilmington ended the half on an 8-0 run, however, including three baskets from different players along with two free throws from Noll to get within two points at the break.
JCU scored the first dozen points of the second half to go up 49-35 and forcing Wilmington Head Coach Jerry Scheve to call two timeouts. The Quakers, who had gotten outscored by an average of 5.25 points in the third quarter coming into the game, would not get the deficit back into single digits until a Kennedy Lewis layup with 5:42 to play in regulation made the scoreboard read 64-55. JCU would score 16 of the last 19 points to seal the victory.
Wilmington shot a higher percentage from the floor than JCU (45.8 percent to 43.3 percent) but attempted 19 less shots and made seven less due largely to 20 turnovers. The Blue Streaks made three more triples (8-5) and won the rebounded battle 35-33.
Mackenzie Campbell led Wilmington individually with a season-high 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting in 28 minutes off the bench. Hannah Binkley was the other Quaker to score in double figures with 12 points, also off the bench. Sister McKayla Binkley added nine points while Lewis and Noll each dished out four assists.
Nicole Heffington led all scorers with 18 points for JCU. Dani Carlson turned in a 14-point, seven-rebound performance off the bench.
Wilmington (7-6, 2-4 OAC) hosts Otterbein University on Wednesday.
