SILOAM SPRINGS -- In a clear showdown between two of the top guard-forward tandems in the league, senior Taylor Fergen poured in a game-high 22 points and nearly put away a 27-foot triple at the buzzer, but the shot was just short – allowing No. 14 Oklahoma City to escape Bill George Arena with a 61-59 final on Saturday (Feb. 20) afternoon.
Fergen's season high 22 nearly matched her career-best mark, 25 points, when she let fly a hopeful game-winning triple from the left arc as time expired. Unfortunately, the shot was just short, allowing the visiting Stars (4-0, 3-0 Sooner Athletic) to escape Siloam Springs with a win that by any measure, it was lucky to have wrestled back from JBU.
In fact, the Golden Eagles (5-5, 5-4) hadn't led all night after digging an early 8-0 hole, but a 12-2 run to open the fourth quarter allowed the hosts to turn a 50-46 deficit into 58-52 lead, courtesy of six points from sophomore Tarrah Stephens – who also scored a game-high 22 points, with 3:50 remaining in the game. The JBU defense had held the Stars to an 0-of-6 mark from the field and a trio of turnovers over the first 6:10 of the final stanza.
Unfortunately, the visiting Stars closed the contest on a 9-1 run that showcased back-to-back triples from Mallory Lockhart and finally, after a night filled with missed shots and more – OCU's Erika Ankney's shot off the glass with 53 seconds enough solidified the visitors' win, and ended Ankney's previous 0-of-8 shooting afternoon.
Fergen hit five triples and nearly completed the double-double with nine rebounds and could have finished with a triple double had the Golden Eagles converted a few transition layups down the stretch, but instead ended the day with four assists. Stephens' 22 came off seven field goals and a 6-of-9 mark from the stripe.
Lockhart and Abbie Selzer each tallied 17 points apiece for Oklahoma City, as Selzer completed the double-double by pulling down 14 rebounds.
Despite shooting just over 25 percent from the field, the Golden Eagles overcame the tough shooting effort with 10 triples, on 38 attempts, but forced the Stars into an uncharacteristic 18 turnovers. City hit 41 percent from the field, but relied on a 39-22 scoring advantage in the paint to provide the difference.
John Brown will now learn Sunday evening where it will play for the Sooner Athletic tournament quarterfinals, scheduled to begin on Tuesday (Feb. 23) evening.
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