By Caleb Scott

ADA — Senior Britt Lauck (Lima/Shawnee) tied a career-high with 21 points as the No. 17-ranked Ohio Northern women's basketball team defeated John Carroll 79-59.

The Polar Bears remain undefeated and improve to 9-0 overall and 4-0 in the Ohio Athletic Conference, while the Blue Streaks drop to 3-5, 1-3.

Lauck scored a game-high 21 points, while sophomore Jenna Dirksen (Beavercreek/Carroll) added 13 points and a game-high three steals.

Junior Amy Bullimore (Morrow/Little Miami) added points and a team-best nine rebounds, while freshman Emily Mescher (Maria Stein/Marion Local) chipped in a career-best 11 points.

Northern used a quick 7-0 run fueled by five points from Dirksen to open the game and grab an early 7-0 lead just over a minute into the contest.

After JCU closed the gap to 9-6, Northern would use a 9-0 run capped off by a jumper from Lauck to push the lead to 18-6 with 5:29 remaining in the first quarter.

Northern would enjoy a 45-25 lead heading into the intermission.

ONU opened up its largest lead of the game after Lauck buried a 3-pointer and pushed the lead to 68-37with 1:21 remaining in the third quarter.

JCU would use a 12-3 run to end the contest, but was unable to overcome the deficit as Northern went on to with 79-59.

The Polar Bears shot 33-of-75 (44.0 percent) from the field, including 7-of-21 (33.3 percent) from the 3-point line.

Northern won the rebounding battle by a 51-48 margin.

The Polar Bears return to action Dec. 29-30 as they compete in the Music City Classic and take on Castleton (Va.) and Westfield State (Mass.) in Nashville, Tenn. at Cumberland University.