Lee Jennings (Stow, OH, Stow-Monroe Falls) dropped in a lay-up with three seconds left for the winning points in a stunning 84-82 upset by the visiting John Carroll Blue Streaks over host and #7 ranked Mount Union Wednesday night at the McPherson Academic and Athletic Complex in Alliance, Ohio.

Box Score

Jennings' shot was part of a 26-point effort matched by teammate Emilee Ritchie (Stow, OH, Stow - Monroe Falls ) that helped propel the Blue Streaks to their first road victory over a top ten team in the nation in program history.

But first, John Carroll had to fight just to get there, as winter storms which hit northeast Ohio doubled the travel time from University Heights to Alliance.

Once there, Mount Union threatened to bury the Blue Streaks with an 11-3 start. But JCU eventually responded with an emphatic 18-2 run highlighted by five three-pointers -- three by Ritchie and two by Sadie Zander. 

The visiting Streaks would take a 47-44 lead into the break.

Mount Union made several runs at John Carroll, and took the lead on several occasions. When Katie Crider hit a three at the 6:43 mark of the second half, she gave her team a 73-69 advantage and seemingly the momentum.

The Blue Streaks dug in, then dug out by scoring the next nine points. A three by Allison Lustig (Palo Alto , CA, Archbishop Mitty) jump started the mini run that moved JCU out in front, 78-73, with 4:15 remaining.

The Purple Raiders had one last salvo, and with Brittany Kilgore's lay-up following a JCU turnover, the host squad had tied the score at 82-82.

Jennings would have one last salvo of her own, as she connected on the game-winner.

The final three seconds were not without dramatics. The Purple Raiders' ensuing inbounds pass was knocked back out-of-bounds with 2.7 seconds showing.

After a Raider timeout, a JCU foul (only its sixth of the half) and a second Raider timeout, Mount Union set up an inbounds play with 1.2 seconds on the clock. A potential game-winning three-pointer by Rosa LaMattina missed its mark at the buzzer, however, glancing off the front iron as time expired.

John Carroll (5-2, 1-1 OAC) was paced by 26 points apiece by Jennings and Ritchie. Jennings added eight rebounds and eight assists to her stat line, while Ritchie's magic number was also eight -- as in a school-record eight three-point field goals on ten attempts. She was one shy of tying the league record.

Missy Spahar (Willowick, OH, Mentor Lake Catholic) added 17 points on 8-12 shooting from the field as JCU was 30-60 (.500) from the field and 12-21 (.571) from beyond the arc.

Mount Union (5-1, 1-1 OAC) was paced by a game-high 30 points from Kilgore, who also pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds.