WIth a youth-laden roster, there will be rough patches for the John Carroll women's basketball team to navigate this season. Sometimes the rough patches will be offensive, sometimes defensive ... and sometimes both.

Tonight in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, John Carroll was shooting nearly 50 percent from the floor through three quarters ... and was in a dog fight. That was because 19 JCU turnovers over tgose same three quarters helped keep host St. Vincent close.

Stong hands stedadied the ship when it mattered most, however, as the Blue Streaks sailed to a 67-57 victory over the Bearcats in a non-conference match-up.

The host team led after one period by a 17-15 count, only to have the visitors from University Heights use a 20-9 run over the entirety of the second period to take a 35-26 lead into the locker room. Sarah Cairnie scored 13 of her game- and career-high 19 points in the opening half of play as the Blue Streaks shot 14-29 (.483) from the field. 

The Blue Streaks could not shake St. Vincent, as a 10-2 start by the Bearcats over the opening three minutes of play in the third period cut John Carroll's lead to a single point at 39-38. Back-to-back three balls by Susie Ellis and Hannah Carroll helped trim the deficit considerably.

John Carroll weathered the storm, shaking off a high turnover total to take a six-point lead (53-47) into the final quarter of play.

St. Vincent was able to close to within five points at 57-52 with 8:53 remaining in regulation, but John Carroll's defense picked up. Over the final 8:35 of the game, JCU forced the Bearcats into five turnovers and a 2-15 shooting performance.

All the while, the offense did just enough to put the game away. Katlyn Spahar scored six of her 17 points down the stretch on a 6-6 effort from the free throw line.

John Carroll (3-1), in addition to the 36 combined points from Spahar and Cairnie, received a monster effort from Battaglia, who scored ten points and grabbed a career-best 16 rebounds. Shmoo Pryor also reached double figures with 13 points. JCU ended the game shooting 24-56 (.429) and did not make any of the three three-point field goals it attempted. The Blue Streaks also won the battle of the boards, 44-38.

Mara Benvenuti had 18 points, seven rebounds and six assists to lead St. Vincent (2-2). The Bearcats were 18-39 (.462) from two-point range, but just 6-26 (.231) from beyond the arc.