CLEVELAND, Ohio – Junior guard Evy Iacono (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame) totaled team-highs of 14 points and nine rebounds and freshman guard Brooke Orcutt (Morrison, Colo./Dakota Ridge) hit the game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer as the Case Western Reserve University women's basketball team defeated John Carroll University, 57-54, on Wednesday evening at Horsburgh Gymnasium.

The Spartans improve to 4-3 overall and will return to action on Monday, December 5 at Heidelberg University at 7:30 p.m. in Tiffin.

Iacono was joined in double-figures by senior forward Erin Hollinger (Chardon, Ohio/Chardon), who turned in an all-around performance of 13 points, nine rebounds, six assists and five blocks. Orcutt scored seven for the game, none bigger than the three as time expired.

The Blue Streaks (3-2) built an early five-point lead of 14-9 when Marissa Spahar hit a three-pointer at the 18:42 mark. The Spartans answered with a 6-0 run and led 15-14 as senior forward Chelsea Peck (Pittsburgh, Pa./Oakland Catholic) hit a layup with 9:13 left in the first half.  Case then outscored JCU 11-9 over the duration of the half and led 26-23 at the break.

In the second half, the Spartans opened on a 14-7 run and led by a game-high 10, at 40-30, when freshman forward Berit Eppard (Englewood, Colo./Cherry Creek) hit a free throw with 12:38 left to play. The Blue Streaks battled back and outscored Case 13-4 over the next 7:23 to pull within one, at 44-43, following a triple by Emilee Ritchie with 5:15 remaining. The Spartans picked up two free throws on their next possession by Hollinger, but JCU was once again able to answer with a Ritchie three-pointer to tie the score at 46 with 3:52 left on the clock.

Case scored the next four with buckets from junior forward Marissa Miles (McDonald, Pa./Fort Cherry) and Hollinger, but JCU came back with four in a row on a Spahar jumper and two free throws from Ritchie.

The Spartans got two more Iacono free throws on the next trip down the floor before JCU tied it for the final time on a Beth Switzler layup with 14 seconds left. After a timeout, Case got the ball in Iacono's hands. The junior then came off of a ball screen and dished it out to Orcutt for the winning bucket.

JCU was led by Ritchie with a game-high 18 points.