WILMINGTON, Ohio - John Carroll University (JCU) held a 54-30 edge in points and pulled away in the second half to defeat the Wilmington College women's basketball team 90-72 in an Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) contest at Hermann Court on Saturday afternoon.

The Quakers were the ones to start fast, however, as a Hannah Binkley three-pointer midway through the quarter gave the hosts a 15-9 advantage. JCU got back to within a point (18-17) late the first quarter, but Ellen Nilback answered with a layup off a pass from Kelis Jones. That basket would prove to be the last of the first quarter. The second quarter opened similarly to the first as a 6-2 spurt for Wilmington capped by a McKayla Binkley layup gave the Quakers a 26-19 lead. The hosts held that advantage until a Jaylen Hoffman layup tied the contest 32-32 with two minutes to play in the first half.

JCU ended the first half with two baskets in the final 14 seconds to lead 38-35 at the break and scored on its first seven possessions of the second half to build a double-digit lead at 55-45. The 10-point Wilmington deficit stayed around that number through the third period as Olivia Nagy gave the Blue Streaks a 69-58 lead after 30 minutes with a basket at the buzzer. The Quakers cut that margin to single digits once in the fourth quarter, but couldn't get close as JCU rode Nagy and former OAC Freshman of the Year Nicole Heffington to victory.

That Blue Streak duo both finished with over 20 points as Nagy turned in a double-double with 24 points and 11 rebounds to go along with five blocks while Heffington had 21 points. Dani Carlson and Abby Adler also finished in double figures for JCU.

Four of Wilmington's five starters also scored in double figures including 16 points from both McKayla Binkley and Kennedy Lewis. The former turned in her third double-double of the season with a team-high 12 rebounds. Lewis dished out five assists while Michelle Lee and Kelly Noll both scored 10 points. Nilback was the bright spot on the Quakers' best has she scored four points on 2-of-3 shooting and grabbed seven boards.

As a team, JCU shot 53.4 percent (39-of-73) from the field and held Wilmington to a season-low 33.8 percent (25-of-74). The Quakers did edge out the much taller Blue Streaks in the rebounding battle, 42-40.

Wilmington (7-6, 3-3 OAC) heads to Otterbein University on Wednesday.