The John Carroll women's basketball team looked to avenge a three-overtime loss from earlier this season at the hands of the Muskingum University Fighting Muskies, and did so on Saturday afternoon at the Tony DeCarlo Varsity Center.
 
The Blue Streaks topped the visiting Fighting Muskies, 65-47, on Mike Moran Court, to advance to 5-14 on the season, and 3-9 against OAC opponents. JCU has now won three of their last four OAC home games.
 
With the loss, Muskingum falls to 6-13 on the season, and 2-10 in the OAC.
 
The Blue Streaks took a one-point halftime lead, and turned it into an 18-point victory, amassing 39 points in the second half alone. A 23-8 John Carroll scoring advantage in the third quarter sealed the deal.
 
Leading the charge was freshman Nicole Heffington with a game-high 18 points and 10 rebounds. Junior Chelbi Graham also secured a double-double, collecting 13 rebounds and 10 points.
 
Senior Alexandra Carson led the Fighting Muskies with team-highs in points (13) and rebounds (8).
 
The Fighting Muskies started off the game on a 5-0 run, before three-pointers by sophomore Dani Carlson and freshman Abby Adler, along with a pair of Heffington free throws, gave the Blue Streaks a lead that did not falter the rest of the way.
 
The Blue Streaks used layups by Adler and junior Kahrin Spear to jump out to a 13-7 lead, giving JCU a 13-2 run midway though the first quarter. Carson stopped the run for Muskingum by sinking two free throws at the 3:17 mark, but freshman Sara Spicer nailed a quick jumper to put end MU's brief run. JCU kept the defensive pressure on, holding Muskingum to 13 points in the first quarter and leading the Muskies 17-13 at the end of the opening stanza.
 
JCU started the second quarter with a quick-strike three-pointer by Dani Carlson, followed by another Carlson made basket 45-seconds later. Muskingum kept pace with the Blue Streaks down the stretch, as Carson contributed eight first-half points for the Fighting Muskies to keep the match knotted up.
 
Heffington's layup one minute into the second half started the Blue Streak scoring spree, as sophomore Sarah Sprecher runner and Chelbi Graham's low-post layup both found the bottom of the basket to help put the Blue Streaks on an 11-4 run to start the half.
 
The final 6:32 of the third quarter was painted Blue & Gold, as Heffington chipped in 12 total third-quarter points in a 19-2 overall run. Labas was active during such span, contributing three rebounds, two points, an assist and two steals.
 
JCU started the final quarter the way they ended the previous, on a positive mark. Heffington nailed a deep two-point jumper, as Graham added on an and-one opportunity and Sprecher hit a free throw all within the first minute and some change. The Blue Streaks rode the wave of momentum until the final buzzer.
 
The Blue Streaks attacked the painted area, outscoring Muskingum 30-14 in that area. JCU also out-rebounded the Fighting Muskies, 50-37.
 
Up next, JCU will remain in University Heights as the Otterbein Cardinals (11-8, 7-5 OAC) come to town on Wednesday evening for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff.