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John Carroll University Athletics

home of the Blue Streaks
Maddie Pietrowksi shined in her JCU debut with 8 points.
Maddie Munding
Maddie Pietrowksi shined in her JCU debut with 8 points.
65
CWRU CWRU 0-2,0-0 UAA
77
Winner John Carroll JCU 1-0,0-0 OAC
CWRU CWRU
0-2,0-0 UAA
65
Final
77
John Carroll JCU
1-0,0-0 OAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
CWRU CWRU 15 13 19 18 65
John Carroll JCU 30 18 13 16 77

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Anna Meyer, Senior Staff Writer

Women's Basketball Opens 2021-22 Campaign with Victory over CWRU

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio -- For the first time in 685 days, the John Carroll University Blue Streaks tipped off against a non-conference team. 

On Friday night, John Carroll came out triumphant in a 77-65 victory against cross-town rival Case Western Reserve University. 

"It feels like it has been forever," said John Carroll's Head Coach Beth Andrews. "It does bring a different feel because it is "season one" of my career. Talking to the Case Western Reserve coach before the game and realizing they didn't even get to play last year made me realize how lucky we were to get those games." 

An experienced starting lineup for the Blue Streaks produced a forceful offense at the beginning of the game. 

John Carroll began the contest with seven unanswered points.

The scoring spree continued as seniors Nicole Heffington, Olivia Nagy and Gabrielle Gevaudan added numerous baskets for the Blue & Gold. 

Carrying the momentum from the 2021 OAC Championship game, the Blue Streak's experienced upperclassmen notched 30 points and only allowed 15 for the Spartans in the first quarter. 

In the second quarter, the Blue Streaks began to sub in their underclassmen. Freshman Maddie Pietrowski proved to be an adequate sub for John Carroll, as she captured eight points in her first eight minutes of collegiate basketball. 

"I definitely think we came out with our adrenaline pumping. We knew we were ready to go," said Andrews. "Maddie Pietrowski has been working hard and has been performing and competing every single day. I was happy to get Olivia Giunta in. She has been improving on both big things and small things. I was comfortable that we got the big lead in the beginning, but the next three quarters were not exactly what we expected." 

Going into the locker room, the Blue Streaks led with a 20 point advantage over Case Western Reserve, 48-28. 

The 2021 OAC Tournament MVP, Nagy led John Carroll in points throughout the first half with 12, followed by Heffington with nine. Heffington and Kaelyn Underwood led John Carroll's successful defensive efforts with five rebounds each, respectively. Gevaudan contributed four as well in the first half. 

Coming out of the locker room, Case Western Reserve seemed to be a new team. The Spartans' defense held John Carroll to only 13 points and outscored them 19-13. At the end of the third quarter, the Spartans trailed the Blue Streaks 61-47, but they still had hope. 

In the fourth and final quarter of the evening at Tony DeCarlo Varsity Center, Case Western presented their biggest comeback of the night. After a three pointer from Lucy Vanderbeck, the Spartans fell within nine points of the Blue Streaks, 61-52. 

The Spartans continued to pressure as both teams exchanged baskets back and forth. For the last five minutes of the game, John Carroll returned to their experienced starting lineup. 

With 4:02 left in the game, Case Western Reserve put the game within seven points. Nagy quickly responded for the Blue & Gold with a layup. Moments later, a jumper from Hoffman put the Blue Streaks up by double digits once again. 

In the final two minutes of the game, Hannah Bouchy secured the victory for John Carroll with four points. 

Nagy led the team in points with 17 and four blocks. Heffington and Underwood recorded double digits with 11 points in the victory as well. 

"I really think that Case did a great job of not playing on their emotions," noted Andrews after the win. "When we went on a run or when we did, we couldn't tell the difference in their play. I think we need to do a better job of just securing the loose balls and securing every possession as well as owning up to every possession." 

John Carroll will have a quick turnaround as they take on Carnegie Mellon University at 3 p.m. in the Tony DeCarlo Varsity Center on Saturday, Nov. 13. 
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