SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Freshman Tarrah Stephens poured in a career-high 19 points, but a 25-14 third-quarter deficit was all the hosts needed as Evangel (Mo.) handed the John Brown University women's basketball team an 81-69 setback on Tuesday night (Nov. 12) inside the Ashcroft Center.
A 7-0 run midway through the first quarter handed the Crusaders (1-2) the lead for good as John Brown (2-2) was limited to 37.9 percent from the floor (25-of-66).
Stephens connected on 7-of-16 overall and secured her first collegiate double-double by grabbing a team-best 10 rebounds and added three assists and two blocks. Junior Taylor Fergen finished in double-figure scoring with 17 points and passed out four assists before fouling out. Sophomore Maddie Altman came off the bench to provide a career-high 12 points on a 5-of-5 effort from the charity stripe.
Already short-handed, the Golden Eagle bench was out-scored by Evangel's reserves, by a 47-20 margin, while the visitors couldn't make the Crusaders pay for its 13 turnovers. JBU turned the ball over just eight times, a season low.
Evangel was led by 12 points from Bailey Harman, while Emma Lander added 10 points off the bench and pulled down seven rebounds. Lexie Vaught flirted with a triple-double as she finished with 10 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists in the win.
The third quarter was the difference as the hosts out-scored JBU by a 25-14 margin in which EU shot at a 58 percent clip to pull away.
John Brown shot its season average behind the arc, connecting on just 7-of-23 from long range (30.4 percent). The visitors were also out-muscled on the glass with Evangel holding a 47-39 rebounding advantage.
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The Golden Eagles will continue its five-game road swing by returning to southwest Missouri to take part in the College of the Ozarks Classic this weekend. JBU will match up with No. 20 Lyon (Ark.) on Friday evening (Nov. 15) before taking on Bellevue (Neb.) the following afternoon in matinee action.
