SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. -- No. 8 Oklahoma City made a pair of game-clinching plays down the stretch despite blowing a 12-point lead and the No. 18 John Brown University women's basketball team suffered a semester-ending 65-60 setback inside Bill George Arena on Saturday evening (Dec. 9).
A dismal first-half shooting effort, coupled with 11 turnovers, placed the Golden Eagles (7-4, 2-1 Sooner Athletic) in a 35-23 hole as the hosts attempted to work through a sub-30 percent shooting mark though 20 minutes of play.
Seemingly reinvigorated after the break, JBU opened the third quarter on a stark 12-3 run in just 2:51, powered by triples from junior Baily Cameron, senior Kimmy Deines and a pair of treys from senior Luize Skrastina, which closed the gap to just three, 38-35.
Triples from sophomore Jordan Martin and senior Rosa Orpo kept the lead at four after three, 50-46.
OCU's Taylor LaCour scored 8 of her 12 points in the four quarter, knocking down a pair of rain-makers to keep JBU at bay until Martin converted 3-of-4 from the line in a 28 second span, handing John Brown its first, and only, lead of the contest, 57-56.
However, the Golden Eagles made just one field goal over the final 4:21 of the game, and coupled with a pair of timely turnovers, allowed City to swing the game in consecutive possessions.
After JBU had taken its one-point lead, the Stars (9-2, 3-0) responded with a triple from Michaela Kay from the left arc followed by a LaCour bucket, turning a one-point game into a four-point lead.
John Brown had its chances, including a strong defensive stand down three with just 1:10 remaining, but a quick steal turned into a quick turnover, and a pair of Daniela Galindo makes at the line iced the game.
Galindo led all scorers with 16 points on 6-of-20 shooting, adding eight rebounds in the win for OCU. Kay made 3-of-4 from behind the arc in an otherwise poor long-distance shooting night for the visitors to finish with 13 while LaCour added 12 and Brooke Irwin's force in the post added 10.
Cameron finished the contest with 15 points while Skrastina's three treys helped her score 11.
Nineteen turnovers, 10 City offensive rebounds and a 29.6 percent shooting (8-of-27) in the first half was too much to overcome.
"For us, the theme seems to be turnovers and offensive rebounds," head coach Jeff Soderquist noted. "We have to do better in these areas."
John Brown now rests until the new year, when it welcomes Central Christian College of the Bible (Mo.) to Bill George Arena on Jan. 1 for a 1 p.m. matinee matchup.
