Key scores by junior Brooke Espenschied lead Women's Basketball to 73-70 win over previously unbeaten John Carroll
By Ashley Birchmeier
ADA — Key scores by junior Brooke Espenschied led the Ohio Northern women's basketball team past previously unbeaten John Carroll 73-70 Saturday at the ONU Sports Center.
Ohio Northern improves to 6-1 overall and are 2-0 in the Ohio Athletic Conference, while the Blue Streaks fall to 6-1, 1-1.
Ohio Northern, after scoring the first two points of the contest, trailed for almost 36 minutes in the game.
With just over a minute left in the game senior Jordan Kimes hit a jumper to give the Polar Bears a 67-66 advantage.
Moments later, sophomore Britt Lauck hit a pair of free throws to give ONU its largest lead of the half at 69-66.
With just 26 seconds remaining in the game, John Carroll's Beth Switzler made a jumper to decrease ONU's lead to 69-68.
The Polar Bears were able to seal the victory from the free throw line, making 4-of-6 free throws in the final 25 seconds.
Kimes led all scores in the game with 18 and pulled down a team-high nine rebounds.
Espenschied added 15 points and a game-high three steals.
The Blue Streaks largest lead of the game came in the second half as they led the Polar Bears 56-46 with just over eight minutes remaining.
But the Polar Bears rallied with a 9-0 run to pull within 56-55 with 5:36 to go.
ONU out rebounded John Carroll 44-30, and scored 21 second chance points.
"This was a great game," said head coach Michele Durand. "A very good OAC match-up, and a great win for us."
The Polar Bears are next in action Wednesday as they host Ohio Wesleyan at 7:30 pm.
