YORK, Pa. - The York women's basketball team battled No. 8 Johns Hopkins tough through the opening quarter, but the visiting Blue Jays slowly pulled away to hand the Spartans a 59-35 setback Saturday afternoon at Charles Wolf Gymnasium. 

Junior Shealyn Ricks led the Spartans with team-highs in points (8) and rebounds (7), while senior Breana Grim and junior Alyssa Dougherty chipped in six points apiece. 

Team Records
No. 8 Johns Hopkins: 6-0
York: 2-3

How It Happened
The Spartans controlled the pace early, forcing the Blue Jays into tough looks and getting early contributions from Grim and Dougherty to build a 7-2 advantage midway through the first quarter. Johns Hopkins responded with a 9-2 run of its own to take an 11-9 lead into the second.

Ricks tied the game to open the new frame, and junior Mackenzie Brezovec put YCP back in front a few minutes later with a bucket in the paint, 13-12. However, the Blue Jays quickly regained momentum. By halftime, Hopkins stretched the margin to double digits, taking a 27-17 lead into the locker room.

JHU controlled much of the third quarter, but the Spartans continued to battle. In the final period, YCP trimmed what was once a 32-point deficit down to 24 behind a 9–1 run to close the game, fueled by scoring from freshman Olivia Shutter, senior Makenna Zimmerman, sophomore Grace Masser, Grim, and Ricks.

Up Next
The Spartans hit the road for the first time since mid-November next Wednesday, traveling to Annville for a non-conference bout with Lebanon Valley. Tip is set for 6 p.m.

Notes
York held the Blue Jays to a season-low 31.3-percent shooting (21-for-67) … The Spartans' defense buckled down around the perimeter, forcing JHU into 2-for-21 shooting from deep, a season-low 9.5 percent … It was the lowest scoring total for the Blue Jays this season, matching the 59 they scored in their last contest at No. 15 Christopher Newport.