The John Carroll women's basketball team had their backs against the wall, down seven in the closing minutes on Monday afternoon.
Unfortunately for JCU, 2016 would not start with a comeback win.
Katlyn Spahar and Sarah Cairnie kicked off the new year with 44 combined points, but the comeback bid fell short in an 80-79 loss to Case Western Reserve University at the Tony DeCarlo Varsity Center.
Spahar had 24 points and 15 rebounds for the Blue Streaks (6-6, 1-4 OAC), while Cairnie added 20 points and 11 boards of her own. CWRU (5-6, 0-0 UAA) was paced by 27 points and three steals from Kara Hageman.
The Blue Streaks and Spartans traded baskets early in the first quarter, with physical fouls called at both ends. Case took a 15-10 lead midway through the period on a Hillary Hellmann layup. An and-one layup from Kara Hageman and another post move from Hellmann extended the lead to 20-12 with 3:12 to play.
John Carroll outscored the Spartans, 13-7, to finish the quarter, but still trailed 27-21. Spahar recorded seven points and three rebounds. Roth poured in nine for CWRU. The Spartans shot an efficient 64.7 percent from the field, while JCU was not far behind at 57.1 percent.
The Blue Streaks closed the lead to 34-31 halfway through the second quarter, but consecutive turnovers and two CWRU three-pointers from Hellmann and Emily Young stopped the JCU momentum.
Out of a Kelly Morrone timeout with 1:57 remaining, JCU showed signs of life, but a strong finish by CWRU on defense made the halftime score 43-37.
JCU closed the lead to 50-48 at the 5:13 mark off a pair of Katlyn Spahar free throws. They tied it and forced a Spartans timeout thirty seconds later off a Sarah Cairnie offensive rebound and put back.
Nicole McManamon energized the Blue Streaks faithful with a three-ball gave JCU a 53-52 lead, its first since the game's early minutes. Minutes later, Chelbi Graham gave the Blue Streaks a five-point lead with an and-one at 1:49. The exclamation point on the period came with 0:22 left when Shmoo Pryor drove the left side of the lane and made another and-one to give JCU a 64-57 lead going into the fourth.
Spahar did her best impression of the Pryor play on the first possession of the fourth, sinking the extra free throw and making the lead 67-57. CWRU went on an 11-2 run that cut the margin to 69-68 with 5:05 to play. A three-pointer from McCoy with just over four minutes to play gave the Spartans the lead once again, 71-69.
After a JCU shot clock violation and a Blue Streaks timeout, Case Western Reserve took a 77-70 lead.
JCU roared back after missed free throws and a CWRU turnover made the score 80-77 with less than 15 seconds remaining. A leaning three from Nicole McManamon did not fall, and a desperation save from Cairnie put Spahar at the line with 1.4 seconds left. Both free throws rattled home and the Spartans ran out the clock.
The Blue Streaks did not make a field goal for 7:17 after taking a 69-57 lead. Their only point in that 18-1 CWRU run came on a Pryor free throw with 3:33 to play.
"We can't miss shots," said Morrone after the game. "When you have 21 offensive rebounds and take 17 more shots than them, you typically expect to run away with games."
JCU moves on to play Muskingum this Saturday at 3:00 p.m. at the DeCarlo Center.
