Emily Taylor and John Carroll
are 5-0 outside of the OAC and 5-0 in it. File photo by John Carroll athletics |
The Blue Streaks are still red hot as No. 18 John Carroll overcame adversity on and off the court in a 64-62 win at Ithaca.
- Wednesday women's scoreboard
- Wednesday men's scoreboard
- Men's wrap: Witt, Augie get big home W's
- More women's headlines
- D3hoops.com Team of the Week
John Carroll traveled to upstate New York for a game that was initially scheduled during the holidays, but snowy weather postponed the trip to this week. Snowy weather nearly derailed this game, too. The team was turned back on Interstate 90 when it tried to drive to Buffalo for a Tuesday game at Medaille.
Once the Blue Streaks and Bombers got on the court, their game was tightly contested. Ithaca erased an eight-point deficit with a 15-4 run, giving the Bombers a 62-59 lead with 2:21 left. Katlyn Spahr hit two free throws on John Carroll's next possession and then made a jumper to give the Blue Streaks the lead for good.
"This was as hard-earned of a win as we have had," said John Carroll head coach Kelly Morrone." From being stranded and turned back on Interstate 90 (trying to get to Medaille for a Tuesday game that was cancelled), to having bus troubles and restaurant issues once we got here, and then having to face a quality opponent like Ithaca ... I'm proud of our resiliency and our maturity."
John Carroll improved to 10-0 while Ithaca drops to 6-4 with three losses to ranked teams.
Mike Durbin won his 600th career game, as St. Benedict locked down Macalester en route to a 65-40 road win. He's the 12th Division III coach to reach the milestone and is 600-174 in his career (.775).
No. 19 UW-Whitewater remained perfect in conference by sending No. 17 UW-Oshkosh to its first loss, 72-66. Four Warhawk starters reached double-digit points, led by Mary Merg's 20. The teams will meet again in Oshkosh on Feb. 15.
No. 14 Wheaton (Ill.) held off Elmhurst 69-61 and won its 10th consecutive game. Katie McDaniels had 14 points, nine rebounds and six assists in 40 minutes for the Thunder. The Bluejays have lost four of their last five games after starting the season 7-1.
No. 1 DePauw made short work of Denison, which entered Wednesday with the second best overall record in the NCAC. After the Big Red scored the first two points, the top-ranked Tigers scored the next seven and never trailed again. DePauw held two Denision starters scoreless and all Denison players under 10 points as the Tigers rolled, 63-38.
Other ranked teams also posted convincing wins. Katie Kitchen scored her 1,000th career point in No. 6 Thomas More's 94-46 win over Geneva. No. 11 Montclair State cruised past New Jersey City 60-34.
Lebanon Valley ensured that Elizabethtown's last season in the Commonwealth Conference won't be an undefeated one. The Flying Dutchmen knocked off the Blue Jays 64-61 in overtime on the road. Krissy Pennell's layup with 28 seconds left in regulation lifted Elizabethtown into a tie, but Lebanon Valley made seven of eight free throws in overtime. The Flying Dutchmen improve to 11-1, 5-0 in conference with road wins at Messiah, Widener and Elizabethtown.