SILOAM SPRINGS -- Sophomore Tarrah Stephens converted an and-one while junior Marta Matamala drilled a triple to jump-start the Golden Eagle offense in the third quarter, but visiting Southwestern Christian (Okla.) held on for a narrow 66-63 final over the John Brown University women's basketball team on Wednesday (Feb. 3) evening inside Bill George Arena.
Freshman Josie Sisk's bucket in the lane started the third quarter that featured the Golden Eagles (0-3, 0-3 Sooner Athletic) down just four points, 29-25, its smallest margin at the intermission of the season. Stephens' hoop and harm then setup a timely Matamala dagger from behind the arc – bolstering JBU to an 8-0 run and a four-point lead, 33-29, its largest of the contest.
The visiting Eagles (9-2, 5-2) suffered through an 0-of-6 effort over the 4:01 run and committed a pair of miscues.
The fifth and final lead change of the third quarter saw SCU knot the score at 47 apiece before taking control quick to open the final frame. Jamie Clarke hit three triples and Thamires Andrade converted a pair at the line to shoot the visitors back to a six-point lead, 58-52, thanks to an 11-5 run that ate up over three minutes of the fourth quarter.
Stephens tried to place the Golden Eagles on her back – to the tune of eight points in the final 5:23 of play, but Tresha Yager's triple with 73 seconds remaining provided the difference the Eagles needed, including Matamala's three-point attempt with three seconds left on the clock.
Receiving no support from the bench, Southwestern Christian leaned on Andrade to produce a game-high 24 points, six rebounds and four assists. Clarke scored all 17 of her points in the second half on five triples, while Kea Mays posted all 13 of her points in the first half on a perfect 5-of-5 night and three triples. Mays exited the game in the first half due to injury.
The John Brown offense held the high-scoring Eagles to 19 points its season average, and kept the turnover margin to just one, 16-15, but SCU turned the 16 John Brown miscues into 16 points. The hosts held a narrow 35-31 rebounding advantage and transitioned 12 offensive rebounds into 11 second-chance points.
Stephens collected her fourth-career double-double notching 20 points and 10 rebounds. Matamala finished the evening with three triples en route to a 14-point effort. Senior Taylor Fergen dished out a season-high nine helpers in the loss.
The Golden Eagles now continue its four-games-in-six-days gauntlet, beginning on Friday night (Feb. 5) at 6 p.m. inside the Ed Pyle Sports Complex. JBU will take on Central Christian (Kan.) in its first of two road games on the weekend, with Friday's matchup scheduled to air on the SAC Sports Network.
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