When the John Carroll University women's basketball team faced Ohio Northern the first time this season, the Blue Streaks lost by 38 points in Ada on December 16. They were nearly doubled up on the scoreboard while being held to their lowest scoring output of the season.

It was not a good day.

February 10, 2018, was a much better day. Much better.

The Blue Streaks upset the No. 15 ranked Polar Bears, 68-66, at the Tony DeCarlo Varsity Center as part of the annual Breast Cancer Awareness Game. Nicole Heffington shined in the final two minutes with a critical three-pointer, Kahrin Spear found a crease in the defense for a go-ahead jumper and head coach Kelly
Morrone devised a defensive game plan that induced 22 turnovers, including a missed layup by Amy Bullimore and a game-changing turnover by Alyssa Manley.

Heffington led the Blue Streaks roster with 21 points, while Abby Adler registered a career-high 18 points. Spear was a force in all facets of the game, with 12 points, five assists, three rebounds and three steals to beat a team that entered play with a 20-2 overall and a 14-1 OAC slate.

Gritty defense and hard-nosed offense in the paint kept the Blue Streaks within striking distance early on, as four different players cracked the scoring column. Heffington spearheaded the effort with six points, while 15 of the Polar Bears' 19 first-quarter points were from the bench.

More of the same up-tempo play on both ends of the floor yielded a 10-7 run to start the second quarter, five of which came off the hot hands of Spear. Adler knocked down a pair of three-pointers, and JCU remained persistent with its defensive schemes to trail by five points, 37-32, heading into the intermission.

The Blue and Gold shot 46.4 percent from the field, and had 28 on-court points in the first half.

A break from the action would not slow the intensity of John Carroll, with the deficit staying under seven points for the whole third quarter. Sophomore Sarah Sprecher found her shooting form in the period, tallying six points and a steal.

Then Adler stole the spotlight.

The freshman sensation drained three consecutive shots for eight points, giving JCU a 57-56 advantage, its first since the early stages of the first quarter. Heffington furthered the outburst with five points of her own, pinning the home five to a two-point lead with four minutes, 29 seconds remaining in regulation.

"When [Adler] shoots, good things happen," assistant coach Emily Taylor said. "I think she's starting to realize that. When she starts shooting, she can score 18 points a night. She has one of the purest shots that I've ever seen. She's one of the most dual-threat players I've ever seen. She's only a freshman, 18 (years old)."

Spear drained a mid-range jumper, Heffington found space beyond the perimeter for a clutch trey and Morrone and company were 30 seconds away from defeating the No. 15 team in the nation.

"All they were saying in those last five minutes was believe, believe, just believe in yourselves," said Taylor. "Coach (Sherrie) Session put it the best way, 'We've been believing in them since the start. It just took (those) five minutes to start believing in each other and they can accomplish so much."

A costly turnover by Alyssa Manley and missed layup by Bullimore proved to be the difference. Lindsey Black received an inbound pass in the final three seconds, but failed to get a shot off before the clock expired.

"Their intensity in the passing lanes, they stuck to the game plan," said Taylor of the defense down the stretch. "It was just a team effort of them trusting each other."

Bullimore, who averages 16.6 points and 9.7 rebounds per game, was neutralized when the tightly contested affair mattered the most.

"[Bullimore's] a great player, but we have great posts as well," Taylor said. "[Chelbi Graham and Nicole Heffington] worked great together. One person was showing, they were giving her different looks all game. I think that's what baffled her, got her into foul trouble early and throwing her off to where she didn't know if the double team was coming."

With the victory – which was capped by a roaring celebration at center court – JCU improves to 6-17, 4- 12 OAC, and will only need one more win to guarantee a spot in the OAC Tournament.

"I said I hadn't been a part of a win like that when I played," said Taylor. "Crowd was phenomenal, it was for a great cause today, pink game. We shared it as a family and loved it."

The Blue Streaks will play their final road game of the regular season against the Heidelberg Student Princes (4-18, 2-13 OAC) on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. from Seiberling Gymnasium in Tiffin, OH. JCU can clinch a playoff berth with a win.