PT. LOOKOUT, Mo. -- Three players scored in double figures, but the John Brown University women's basketball team (5-4) had its five-game win streak snapped after No. 25 College of the Ozarks (Mo.) captured an 80-63 final on Friday (Feb. 19) afternoon inside the Keeter Gymnasium.
Freshman Natalie Smith hit a pair of triples three minutes apart in the first quarter, and senior Taylor Fergen's layup in transition with two seconds left pulled John Brown (5-4) within three, 25-22, but a foul on a three-quarter court shot seemed to push momentum back into CofO's favor. Once trailing by 10, 21-11, the Golden Eagles allowed Ozarks to convert three at the line to push the lead back to six, 28-22, at the end of 10 minutes as the momentum continued into the second stanza for the Bobcats.
College of the Ozarks (6-1) built a ten-point lead at the intermission and never trailed after John Brown's early 2-0 lead.
Senior Tarrah Stephens recorded 14 points and eight rebounds while Fergen contributed 13 points and a game-high seven assists. Smith's three triples helped her land 11 points in the loss.
Jordan Wersinger's 19 points led four Bobcats in double-digit scoring, and CofO featured a double-double from Annie Noah – as she notched 10 points and 11 rebounds in the squad's second-straight victory.
John Brown will close out the regular season on Saturday (Feb. 20) afternoon against No. 14 Oklahoma City at 2 p.m. The matchup will be featured on the SAC Sports Network.
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