With the holiday season came a break from conference play for the John Carroll women's basketball team.

In a Wednesday afternoon contest, the Blue Streaks got back on track.

The young John Carroll team left 2015 behind, defeating the Ferrum College Panthers, 73-56, in a non-conference matchup at the Tony DeCarlo Varsity Center.

The Blue Streaks advance to 6-5 on the season, while the Panthers drop to 4-7.

Junior Katlyn Spahar finished with a game-high 31 points and six rebounds, while going 5-9 from behind the three-point line. Spahar had 17 points at halftime, starting off hot going 3-5 behind-the-arc in the first half. Sophomore Nicole McManamon connected from downtown shortly before the end of the second quarter, to give John Carroll a 36-21 lead at the intermission.

"[We made] layups and forced some tough shots on defense, as well as getting in their passing lanes and getting on the boards," said head coach Kelly Morrone after the game. Morrone cited starting off fast and keeping the pace as the key for things going in the Blue Streaks favor.

  Shmoo Pryor kept the engine running for the Blue Streaks at the start of the second half, getting two consecutive steals and layups to get a quick four points just 30 seconds into the third period. Ferrum College gained momentum, scoring 35 points in the final two periods and cutting the lead to as little as 10.

  Zarkia Mattox notched a double-double, tallying 22 points and 11 rebounds. Currently fourth in the USA South Conference, Ferrum counted on Krista Cox to connect from three point range.

  She delivered, going 6-8 and finishing with 18 points. The Panthers fought throughout the second half, keeping a full-court press until the final whistle. Ferrum cut the Blue Streaks lead to ten with a little under seven minutes to play, but the late push was not enough for the Panthers to take the win back home to Virginia.

  Morrone called Sarah Cairnie the key to shutting down Kemani Crawford in the paint. Cairnie led the defense for the Blue Streaks, grabbing nine boards in the first half, and finishing with 13 total rebounds. Cairnie guided the way for a stout defensive performance by John Carroll, who as a unit held an opposing team to under 60 points for the fourth time this season.

  The Blue and Gold has a special guest on the sidelines as University Heights Mayor Susan K. Infeld served as honorary coach. She relished the opportunity to join the Blue Streaks on the bench, calling her basketball IQ "low," but citing the afternoon as a excellent learning experience.

"It was exciting being with the team and seeing how the coaches communicate with the players, as well as seeing how much work and research the girls put into every game," said Mayor Infeld.  

The Blue Streaks will be back in action at the DeCarlo Center on Monday as they will take on the Spartans of Case Western Reserve University in a 2:00 p.m. tip-off matinee.