Box Score Faced with its second layoff of over a week this season, the No. 24 John Carroll University women's basketball team looked to keep its undefeated record intact. Standing in John Carroll's way was Capital, a team the Blue Streaks have traditionally struggled against.

Looking to avoid having its stellar start to the season snapped once again by Capital, John Carroll warded off an ever-charging Crusader squad. With its 74-68 win JCU improves to 7-0, 4-0 OAC and moves into sole possession of first place in the conference.

The 7-0 start is the best start since the 1993-94 team rattled off 10 straight wins to start the season before running into a stiff Crusader team who snapped the Blue Streaks run with a 96-51 win.

JCU found its grove midway through the first half. Neither team could get off to a strong start as both teams battled back and forth to an even score at 12 at the halfway point of the first half in a hard-fought physical contest.

Just as they have done all season the Blue and Gold turned up the pressure and starting rolling. The Blue Streaks erupted on a 19-4 run over the next 7:36 to take a 15-point lead.

A trio of Lake Catholic products led the charge once again.
                           
Missy Spahar scored eight points during the run with younger sister Katyln Spahar adding three. Beth Switzler, the third Lake Catholic product added a key layup during the stretch giving the Blue Streaks all the momentum.

Missy Spahar continued to have her way inside as the game progressed getting loose for wide-open looks on a consistent basis. The senior reset her career-high in scoring for the third time this season. After scoring 32 points twice already this season Spahar finished with 36 points. She finished one rebound shy of a double-double.

"Missy's just doing fantastic right now" said head coach Kelly Morrone.  "She's feeling good and she put the work in during the preseason. She's doing what she needs to do on a daily basis in practice. She comes in extra. The kid just does her job. She's completely selfless. She finds ways to make great plays like all great players do."

John Carroll wrecked havoc once again on the defensive end of the floor finishing with 11 steals. Senior Allie Lustig led the defense with four steals and also contributed with seven assists on the offensive end of the floor.

All eight Blue Streaks who played found the scoring column to give John Carroll back-to-back wins over Capital for the first time in program history.

"(Everyone contributing is) what makes this team successful," said Morrone. "Everyone understands that on any given night it can be anybody. They found that limiting their second chance points is what the key was here. We had nine rebounds (M. Spahar), nine rebounds (Switzler), five rebounds (Taylor) and six rebounds (K. Spahar). They had to find a way to get it done when the offense wasn't necessarily clicking. When they were making big runs at us you can get caught up in your emotion and locked in on what was important on getting rebounds."

The Blue Streaks remain home when they take on Ohio Christian at 2 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 30. Admission to this game is free.