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John Carroll University Athletics

home of the Blue Streaks
Ava Ryncarz vs. DePauw on 2-28-26 NCAC final
Jose Figueroa
Ava Ryncarz
64
Winner DePauw DPU 19-9,9-5 NCAC
59
John Carroll JCU 24-4,11-3 NCAC
Winner
DePauw DPU
19-9,9-5 NCAC
64
Final
59
John Carroll JCU
24-4,11-3 NCAC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
DePauw DPU 12 19 17 16 64
John Carroll JCU 16 10 15 18 59

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Joe Ginley '16, SID

NCAC Tournament Crown Evades Women's Basketball

DePauw defeated the Blue Streaks in the paint and held off JCU's deep threats late

GRANVILLE – In the limelight of the North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament Championship, John Carroll Women's Basketball posted another strong defensive effort.

Unfortunately, the Blue Streaks couldn't score enough down the stretch to claim the crown.

The DePauw University Tigers held off John Carroll in Denison's Livingston Gymnasium, 64-59, to secure the NCAC tournament title plus the automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.

A strong resume has the Blue Streaks locked into an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. A win would have clinched home court advantage for the first and second rounds. That's still possible, but not a guarantee. 

A strong second quarter by DePauw seemed to deflate the Blue Streaks, as the Tigers never trailed after the 2:46 mark of the second. DePauw's advantage in the boards and in the paint proved to be one of the separators in a battle of two talented teams. 

John Carroll opened the game on a nice note. Brooke Laub helped the Clevelanders grab an 11-5 lead at the halfway mark of the quarter with a triple. Nicci Finazzo broke the ice after the media timeout with a 3-pointer of her own, and a Carly Perusek layup upped the margin to 10 points. But DePauw fired up a 6-point run to end the quarter, slimming the margin to 16-12.

After a Kaylie McKenney layup provided the quarter's first points, the period belonged to the Tigers. DePauw outscored JCU over the next six-and-a-half minutes, 15-8. An Ava Ryncarz 3-pointer snapped JCU out of it with 1:50 to play, but then DePauw scored the final four points of the quarter, including a three-point play with just a tick on the clock. DePauw headed into half with a 31-26 lead. 

A Laub triple and a Perusek layup evened the score at 31 just 84 seconds into the third. But an 8-2 DePauw run turned the tides, as the Tigers never again trailed. JCU stood behind at the media timeout by six. Despite 3-pointers by Graci Semptimphelter and Laub, the Tigers continued to win in the paint, heading into the fourth with a 48-41 lead. 

The DePauw advantage increased to 10 points at the 7:21 mark. JCU managed to chisel away at the gap, including with a stepback corner triple for Ryncarz off a Perusek pass. A pair of Ryncarz free throws narrowed the gap to one possession, 57-54, with 3:36 left. 

But down the stretch, JCU couldn't create enough open looks. DePauw's defense locked down the Blue Streaks. Ryncarz did make a triple with 18 seconds left to give JCU a shot, trailing by three. But DePauw made its free throws to lock it up. 

Ryncarz topped the Blue Streaks with 16 points. Semptimphelter contributed 10 points and 8 rebounds, locking up a spot on the NCAC All-Tournament Team. 

JCU was outrebounded, 41-32, and DePauw enjoyed a 32-24 advantage in terms of points in the paint. 

Next Up
The Blue Streaks will await the NCAA Selection Show on Monday at 2:30 pm on NCAA.com.
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