Box Score UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio – The Marietta College women's basketball team's season came to a close Monday (Feb. 18) evening with a 60-53 loss at John Carroll University in the first round of the Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament.

Marietta finishes the season with a 10-16 record equalizing its win total from a year ago. John Carroll improves to 14-12 overall and advances to face Mount Union tomorrow in Alliance.

Following a bucket from each team to start the game, John Carroll went on a 7-0 run taking a 9-2 lead with 17:06 left in the first half and forcing a Marietta timeout. A jumper from sophomore Candice Alexander (Fairborn/Fairborn) cut the lead to 9-7, with 14:54 left in the half.

Alexander drained a three-pointer with 6:58 remaining in the opening period to make it 16-14 in favor of the Blue Streaks. John Carroll exploded for a 12-0 run to push the margin to 14 points, 28-14 at the 4:01 mark.

Marietta cut the margin to single digits several times only to see John Carroll answer with a basket. The Blue Streaks led by 11 points, 35-24 at the half.

Neither team scored in the first three minutes of the second half. John Carroll drew first blood with a three-pointer from Elissa Day at the 17:08 mark to make it 38-24.

The Pioneers responded and cut the deficit to two points, 45-43, with 9:06 remaining when sophomore Jessica Brogan (Cincinnati/Anderson) hit one of two free throws. After trading baskets, the Pioneers would have four possessions with a chance to tie the game but couldn't get the equalizer.

The Blue Streaks pushed the lead back to six points, 54-48, with 3:35 left on the clock on a three-pointer from Day.

Marietta made one last run at the Blue Streaks getting within a point, 54-53, with 1:33 left. John Carroll answered with a quick basket and then forced a Pioneer turnover to seal the victory.

Alexander led the Pioneers with 15 points and 13 rebounds. Junior Tori Dixon (Londonderry/Vinton County) scored 12 points, while sophomore Heather Booth (Newport/Frontier) added 11 points and nine rebounds.

Melissa Spahar led John Carroll with 19 points and 15 boards. Day hit four three-pointers and finished with 16 points. Beth Switzler chipped in with 10 points.

For the game, Marietta shot 32.2% (19-of-59) from the floor, 36.8% (7-of-19) behind the arc and 57.1% (8-of-14) at the line. John Carroll hit 21-of-65 (32.3%) from the floor, 8-of-22 (36.4%) from three-point range and 10-of-13 (76.9%) at the line.

Marietta grabbed 49 rebounds to John Carroll's 39. The Blue Streaks committed just four turnovers, while the Pioneers turned the ball over 16 times.