The Case Western Reserve University women's basketball team picked up its first win of the 2021-22 campaign on Saturday afternoon, defeating Heidelberg University 49-46 to conclude play at the John Carroll Tip-Off Tournament in University Heights, Ohio.

The Spartans improved to 1-2 on the year following the win, while Heidelberg dropped to 1-2 following the loss.

Senior Abbey Lawrence led the Spartans with 16 points in the game, shooting six-of-14 from the floor and adding five rebounds. Junior Isabella Mills filled up the box score on Saturday with nine points, a team-high nine rebounds, four assists and two blocks. Junior guard McKenna Gross added seven rebounds, a team-high six assists, two steals and a block.

The Spartans led by as many as five points in the opening quarter, after a steal by Gross set up a layup for Lawrence that put CWRU ahead 8-3 with 5:18 left on the clock. However, Heidelberg quickly scored five points to tie the game, and the period ended with the two teams tied 12-12. CWRU went on to score the first seven points of the second quarter, taking a 19-12 lead on a layup by Kayla Characklis with 8:44 left in the half. The Spartans would lead for the remainder of the game, but Heidelberg cut the lead to a point later in the second quarter, before CWRU scored the final five points of the period to take a 26-20 lead into halftime.

The Spartans pulled away throughout the third quarter, taking a 13-point lead, 44-31 on a pair of free throws by Lawrence to end the third period. A three pointer by Mills, followed by a layup by first-year Margaret Terry, put the Spartans ahead by a game-high 18 points, 49-31, with 9:03 left in the game. However, the CWRU offense went cold from that point forward, but was able to hold on for the three-point win.

The Spartans outrebounded Heidelberg 43-29 in the game and finished with a 17-5 edge in fast break points.

The Spartans will continue a stretch of road games this week, traveling to Waynesburg University on Tuesday, November 16. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.