SILOAM SPRINGS -- Last-second shots saved the Golden Eagles twice, but a third time wouldn't materialize as Evangel (Mo.) escaped Bill George Arena with an 88-86 double-overtime decision over the John Brown University women's basketball team Tuesday (Nov. 2) night.
Junior Tarrah Stephens drove the basket and laid in the game-tying shot at the end of regulation, and senior Maddie Altman splashed a last-second triple to close out the first overtime session, but the Golden Eagles, with possession and down two, weren't able to find a magical finish in the second overtime. The possession was unable to produce a shot, allowing the Valor (1-1) to escape Siloam Springs with its fourth win all-time in 14 visits.
The contest, despite a 12-point Valor lead shortly before half, featured 12 ties and 15 lead changes in the wild see-saw battle.
Stephens scored 21 of her career-high 39 points in the second half, jump-starting a stagnant offensive start that was marred by 15 first-half turnovers. Stephens hit 8-of-13 from the field in the second half and the Golden Eagles poured in 27 third-quarter points to tie the score at 52 apiece.
The career night finished with her first double-double of the season by adding 12 rebounds and a pair of steals. Posting a 15-of-28 mark from the field and 9-of-12 shooting from the free-throw line, Stephens' scoring total finished as the second-most in a single game in program history, just shy of Lisa Hunt's 41-point outing versus Oklahoma Wesleyan in 1984.
Freshman Emily Sanders hit three triples and shot a perfect 6-of-6 from the line, while Altman also finished with a double-double, scoring 10 points and dishing out a career-high 10 assists.
After shooting just 32 percent (8-of-25) in the first half, the hosts responded with a 15-of-32 effort in the second half (47 percent) and a 10-of-11 mark from the line.
Unfortunately, John Brown cooled off from the floor in overtime (6-of-17), while the visiting Valor took advantage of a march to the free throw line, hitting 13-of-16 in the two overtime periods to finish the night 27-of-31.
Evangel earned 26 points from its bench, while the Golden Eagles won the battle of the boards, 52-45.
Five Valor finished in double-figure scoring, led by Bayley Harman's 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting. Abby Wildermuth secured 15 points, Alexis Cauthon added 13 and Sophie Sparks contributed 12. Alexis Roach post 10.
With four fouls entering overtime Harmon went 3-of-3 from the floor and 3-of-4 from the line to produce nine of the Valor's 21 points in the extra periods.
John Brown will now rest for a few days before heading off to McKenzie, Tenn. this weekend, where it will face host Bethel (Tenn.) and No. 3 Campbellsville (Ky.) in the Bethel University Chamber of Commerce Classic at Crisp Arena. JBU takes on Bethel on Friday (Nov. 5) at 3 p.m. before battling Campbellsville on Saturday at 11 a.m.
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