SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. -- Freshman Tarrah Stephens scored a career-high 26 points and led five Golden Eagles that finished in double-figure scoring as the John Brown University women's basketball team exploded for a season-best offensive output in a 99-63 victory over Central Christian (Kan.) on Thursday night (Jan. 9) inside Bill George Arena.
In the wire-to-wire win, the Golden Eagles (4-9, 1-4 Sooner Athletic) scored 25 point or more in three of the four quarters and also enjoyed a career night from sophomore Haley James as she boasted an incredibly efficient outing by hitting 7-of-9 from the field to add 17 points, while senior Jordan Martin (16), junior Taylor Fergen (11) and sophomore Maddie Altman (10) each finished in double digits, powering JBU's highest-scoring contest of the season.
Averaging just over 67 points per game entering the contest, the hosts hit a blistering 33-of-58 from the floor (57 percent), including a 13-of-27 mark from behind the arc, which quickly deflected away from its 25 turnovers. The JBU defense stepped up as well, forcing the Tigers (4-9, 1-5) into 19 turnovers and held the visitors to a mere 31 percent effort from the floor (23-of-74), but most impressively out-rebounded Central Christian by a 52-29 margin.
Stephens scored 17 of her career-high output in the first half and finished with second-career double-double by grabbing a game-high 12 rebounds, also a career best, and also posted a career-best four blocks.
After opening the second quarter with a triple to pull within four, 19-15, the Tigers had to endure a 13-1 John Brown run that saw triples from Stephens and freshman Lisa VanOverberghe to take a 32-16 lead.
James scored 11 of her 17 points in the second half, powering the hosts to a 55-point second stanza that was simply too much for the visitors to keep up with.
John Brown owned the paint to the tune of 66-34, and enjoyed 38 points off the bench, led by James and Altman's combined 27 points. While the Tigers turned the JBU miscues into 18 points, the hosts took advantage of 14 offensive rebounds, led by Fergen's three, to post 19 second chance points, compared to just seven from Central Christian.
Martin converted 6-of-8 from the stripe as the Golden Eagles turned in a stellar night from the free throw line, hitting 20-of-24, while the Tigers hit just eight of its 14 attempts. JBU also passed out more than 20 assists for the fifth time this season, finishing with 22 on 33 field goals (67 percent).
Holly Golden's 17 points paced the Tiger offensive effort, while Tania Lowe added 16 of her own. Jordan Dixon chipped in with 15 points as well, but no other Central Christian player could finish with more than five in the setback.
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JBU travels to north-central Oklahoma to take on Langston on Saturday in a matinee affair. Game time is slated for 2 p.m.
