Junior guard Ava Ryncarz and the John Carroll Blue Streaks had opened the 2024-25 season in high-scoring fashion. JCU was averaging 91.7 points coming into their nonconference neighborhood rivalry game against Case Western Reserve on Nov. 15 at Horsburgh Gymnasium. Ryncarz and the Blue Streaks prevailed and upped their record to 4-0, but had to work hard to post a 66-50 victory over an opponent determined to hold JCU well beneath its customary point production. CWRU slipped to 1-2 with the loss. “I’m so proud of the toughness our players showed tonight,” CWRU coach Jennifer Reimer said. “You’re either winning or learning at this point of the season. We learned a lot tonight that will make us a better team moving forward.” Ryncarz led all scorers with 23 points, 17 coming in the first half as the Blue Streaks took a 32-20 lead at the break. The 5-foot-9 product of Aurora was particularly effective from beyond the arc, going 5-for-8 from 3-point range. Four of those treys came in the first half as the Blue Streaks struggled to establish offensive momentum. “Those shots came in the flow of the game and helped get us going,” Ryncarz said. When the Spartans opened the third quarter on a 9-2 that shaved JCU’s lead to 34-29, Ryncarz cashed in a 3-pointer to steady the ship. “Ava is a great shooter. She always has the green light,” JCU coach Beth Andrews said. Eleven other JCU players reached the scoring column as the Blue Streaks kept the Spartans at arm’s length throughout the fourth quarter. “That’s a good team we beat tonight,” Andrews said. “It was good for our players to face some adversity and have to rise to meet the challenge.” Senior guard Nyah Moore topped the Spartans with 12 points. Junior guard Emily Plachta added 11 points.