John Carroll JCU 11-8,6-6 OAC

Muskingum MUSK 8-11,3-9 OAC

John Carroll JCU

11-8,6-6 OAC

Final

Jan. 27, 2024

Muskingum MUSK

8-11,3-9 OAC

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	3	4	F
John Carroll JCU	12	16	23	19	70
Muskingum MUSK	16	16	17	19	68

Summary
Box Score

Peter Wangechi

Ava Ryncarz knocked down a clutch shot at a buzzer at Muskingum to send JCU home happy.

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | 1/27/2024 5:49:00 PM | Dylan Feltovich, Staff Writer

Ryncarz's Buzzer Beater Secures Important Road Win over Muskingum

NEW CONCORD — Sophomore Ava Ryncarz continued her dominant season today, this time hitting a last-second buzzer beater.

Ryncarz's clutch make helped John Carroll Women's Basketball beat Muskingum University on the road, 70-68. Along with her buzzer-beater, Ryncarz finished the contest with 17 points and 9 rebounds.

The win keeps the Blue Streaks fully in the hunt for a spot in the Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament with a 6-6 record with six games to play.

The first quarter began with a tight back and forth match between the Blue Streaks and Fighting Muskies, as both teams were unable to pull away with a lead. However, Muskingum guard Caitlyn Demassimo gave her squad the early advantage late in the first quarter, with a quick five points. A last-second layup by Maddie Pietrowski cut the Muskingum lead to four, and the Fighting Muskies had a 16-12 lead going into the second quarter.

Both squads continued the defensive efforts into the second quarter, as JCU and Muskingum failed to put points on the board within the first few minutes. But John Carroll's offense began to show life once again, thanks to a bucket from Pietrowski and three-pointer from Bella Carcioppolo, which helped tie up the game at 18-18. The Blue Streak's momentum was cut short, with Muskingum going on a 13-7 run late in the first half to give them a four point advantage heading into half, 32-28.

Late in the third quarter, JCU got back in the driver's seat, and the offense began to take over the contest. Both Pietrowski and freshman guard Quinn Benchley knocked down three-pointers to tie the game with under three minutes left in the period. Their efforts, along with Ryncarz and company, gave the Blue Streaks a two-point advantage heading into the fourth quarter, 51-49.

John Carroll's lead grew to as big as eight in the middle of the fourth quarter, thanks to Abigail Rosol making a three-pointer and hitting her foul shots.

Muskingum managed to claw their way back into the contest, and both teams went bucket-for-bucket nearing the end. With only 33 seconds left, Pietrowski was sent to the line after being fouled. The junior made both of her free throws, giving JCU a 68-66 lead.

Sooner after, Taylor Demassimo was sent to the line with 17 seconds left and made both free throws. JCU missed a layup to take the lead with three seconds left, but John Carroll's defense came up huge, causing a five-second call on the Fighting Muskies to inbounding the ball.

With little time left, Head Coach Beth Andrews '15 turned to Ryncarz to take the final shot. Pietrowski found Ryncarz on the inbound, and the sophomore nailed a turnaround jump shot to give the Blue Streaks the win in dramatic fashion at the Anne C. Steele Center.

Besides Ryncarz's team-leading 17 points, Pietrowski was everywhere on the court today. The Walsh Jesuit grad scored 15 points while racking up 6 rebounds and 7 assists. Rosol and Angela Vitantonio each contributed 8 points.

Next up for the Blue Streaks, they will travel to Berea to take on Baldwin Wallace in the OAC TV Game of the Week on Wednesday, with the tip-off set for 7 pm.

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