SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. -- In just over 15 minutes, the score swung 23 points and the No. 12 John Brown University women's basketball team suffered a difficult setback in an 86-82 loss to College of the Ozarks (Mo.) inside Bill George Arena on Monday night (Nov. 27).
Junior Baily Cameron was unstoppable at both ends of the floor as she secured her second double-double of the season. Despite shooting 13-of-18 from the field, scoring a game-high 29 points, grabbing a game-high 12 rebounds and adding four assists and four blocks, Cameron and the Golden Eagles (4-3) dropped consecutive games for the first time this season.
After junior Preslea Reece's turn-around, one-handed jumper in the lane armed JBU with a 17-point lead, 41-27, it appeared the hosts would finish non-conference play with a victory over the sixth-ranked team in NAIA II. Instead, the Bobcats (10-0) rallied on an improbable run.
Over the next 15:02, the visitors pieced together a 44-23 run that featured a 27-15 advantage in the third quarter alone that saw CofO hit 10-of-14 from the floor, including 4-of-7 triples attempted.
Back-to-back Cameron buckets, including the latter a successful and-one, was followed by senior Luize Skrastina's third triple of the night which erased the six-point deficit and placed JBU back on top by three.
The lead returned to the Bobcats shortly after which it didn't relinquish, mostly due to Cassidy Johnson's five late points and a costly John Brown turnover with 42 seconds left and a chance to tie the game with a triple.
Fifteen offensive rebounds for the visitors fueled a 20-8 second-chance scoring advantage, eight of which came in the fourth quarter. JBU's 16 miscues also allowed the Bobcats to earn an 18-6 margin in points off turnovers.
Johnson paced the Bobcats with a team-high 27 points, including six triples. Shelby Roberts registered 20 points and three assists while Abby Oliver scored 11.
The matchup of high-shooting teams didn't disappoint as both squads shot over 50 percent. The visitors hit 32-of-74 (50 percent) from the floor while the Golden Eagles converted 34-of-58 (58.6 percent) and 10-of-19 from behind the arc (52.6 percent).
With its forfeit win versus St. Gregory's (Okla.) on Thurday (Nov. 3), the Golden Eagles will officially begin conference play on Saturday at Southwestern Christian at 3 p.m.
