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John Carroll University Athletics

home of the Blue Streaks
Graci Semptimphelter Women Basketball Vs Mount
Peter Wangechi
60
Mount Union MTU 9-11,4-9 OAC
66
Winner John Carroll JCU 15-6,9-4 OAC
Mount Union MTU
9-11,4-9 OAC
60
Final
66
John Carroll JCU
15-6,9-4 OAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Mount Union MTU 11 12 16 21 60
John Carroll JCU 15 15 15 21 66

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Jack Stephens, Staff Writer

Streaks Sweep Raiders, as JCU Wins on National Girls & Women in Sports Day

Semptimphelter's career day guided JCU to a season sweep of Mount Union

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS — On Morgan's Message night and National Girls & Women in Sports Day, John Carroll Women's Basketball utilized a career game from Graci Semptimphelter to push past rival Mount Union, 66-58.

With the victory, the Blue Streaks advance to 9-4 in Ohio Athletic Conference play, and clinch a spot in the OAC Tournament. 

It's been an up and down year for JCU in conference play, as a 6-game winning streak was followed by a 3-game skid. Meanwhile, Mount Union came into the Tony DeCarlo Varsity Center winners of their last two each by large margins.

It was a defensive battle early on, as there were only four combined points in the first four minutes of gameplay. John Carroll took its first lead of the game with a tough left-handed finish from senior Maddie Pietrowski. The Purple Raiders quickly regained the lead off a triple from Abby Muckleroy and a fastbreak layup from Mckayla Dunkle. In desperate need of an answer offensively, junior Kaylie McKenney scored in the post and then Graci Semptimphelter drilled a three pointer to make it 10-9 Blue Streaks late in the first. John Carroll ended the first period on a 5-0 run courtesy of a pullup jumper from Ella Neitzel and a three from Booke Laub in the corner. After a back-and-forth first period, the Blue Streaks found themselves up four early, 15-11. 

Carly Perusek made the first bucket of the second quarter off a great feed from Pietrowski off a pick and roll. She got another tough bucket to go early, which gave the Blue Streaks their largest lead early at 20-11. JCU's extended run grew to 12-0 after a Ava Ryncarz jumper. After being held scoreless for over half of the period, the Purple Raiders finally got on the board with a Muckleroy three. However, the Blue Streak momentum did not cease, as Ryncarz quickly connected on a 3-pointer on the other end. Mount Union got some must needed buckets in the final minute, but the early JCU onslaught was enough to give them an early 30-23 lead after the first half. 

Perusek was all over the floor in the first half, scoring 8 points, grabbing 4 boards and blocking a shot. Ryncarz got it done on both ends, scoring 5 points and having a game-high 6 rebounds. Muckelroy led the Purple Raiders with 6 points and 2 blocks. John Carroll's lockdown defense held Mount Union to 23.5% shooting from the field in the first half.

Carly Perusek's career night continued as she ignited the crowd with a converted and-one to start the second half. Semptimphelter cashed in another three pointer to give the Blue Streaks a 13-point lead, forcing a Mount Union timeout. Just when it seemed like JCU was gonna put the nail in the coffin, UMU exploded on a 7-0 run to cut the deficit to six. The Blue Streaks ended the run off a mid-range pull up from Semptimphelter. Both teams went back and forth for the remaining four minutes, as the Blue Streaks maintained their 6-point advantage heading into the final frame. 

Mount Union scored the first points of the fourth, though Carmen Heuker quickly responded on the other end, draining a 3-pointer. After a defensive stop, Semptimphelter hit her third triple of the game from the corner to extend the JCU lead to 10. In desperation mode, the Purple Raiders roared to a 9-0 run to cut the Blue Streak advantage to one, 53-52. Neitzel and Semptimphelter responded in a big way for JCU drilling back-to-back shots from deep to put the Blue Streaks back up seven. 

The threes continued to rain for both squads, as Purple Raider guard Dae Dae Nash and Semptimphelter traded triples with under two minutes to play. That triple gave Semptimphelter her collegiate career high at 17 points. She was not done there, as after a JCU stop, the Tennessee native attempted a three and connected. An off-ball foul gave the Blue Streaks the ball back, and with limited time remaining, Mount Union started to play the fouling game. It would be too little too late for the Purple Raiders, as the home team finished the win in University Heights, 66-60.  

Semptimphelter finished with 20 points and six 3-pointers. Carly Perusek snagged a double-double with 13 points and 10 boards. John Carroll as a team made 10 three-pointers and held Mount Union to 34% shooting. 

"It always feels good to beat Mount Union," Semptimphelter said. "Beating anyone in the OAC is tough, we gotta carry our mindset into Wilmington and take care of business."

Leslie Beck, an HRIS Analyst at John Carroll, served as the Guest Coach tonight and served as a good luck charm for the Blue Streaks. 

Up Next
John Carroll returns to the hardwood Saturday afternoon against Wilmington College on the road at 1 pm. 
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