SILOAM SPRINGS -- For the first time this season, the Golden Eagles featured a pair of 20-point scorers, riding strong outings from junior Tarrah Stephens and sophomore Natalie Smith to a resounding 86-67 victory as the John Brown University women's basketball team split the season series with Langston (Okla.) on Thursday (Jan. 20) evening inside Bill George Arena.
While leading scorer Asheika Alexander managed to score 20 points on 9-of-14 shooting for Langston (14-5, 9-7 Sooner Athletic), the Lions couldn't find a second double-digit scorer and fell victim to a poor shooting night behind the arc (23 percent).
The Golden Eagles (8-12, 4-8) ended its five-game winless streak riding Smith from behind the arc and Stephens in the paint as the duo combined to score 57 percent of JBU's output on the evening.
Smith notched a career-high 25 points on 7-of-13 shooting from long range – also a career best – while Stephens worked the paint in a 10-of-12 shooting night for 24 points, her fourth 20-plus scoring outing of the season.
After the teams traded leads in a tight first quarter that saw the visitors hold a one-point lead, John Brown blew the contest open via a pair of runs, including a 19-5 and another 15-5 rally, to out-score the Lions by a 49-29 margin in the second and third quarters. Both teams tallied 21 apiece in the final period.
Senior Maddie Altman was also efficient, hitting 5-of-7 from the floor to contribute 13 points.
The hosts shot 52 percent (34-of-66) which provided the difference in the rematch of the two teams that played in Langston last semester to a one-point tilt. Alexander hit a controversial game-winning triple at the buzzer. Tonight's contest featured a 30-point advantage for the Golden Eagles midway through the fourth quarter.
This time, however, John Brown shot well all night long and improved to 7-0 on the season when shooting 43 percent or better.
JBU out-rebounded Langston by a 37-31 margin, paced by eight caroms from Stephens. The hosts only committed eight turnovers – the second time this year under double-digits – allowing John Brown to enjoy a 19-9 scoring advantage off opponent miscues. The Lions committed 14 errors in the contest.
After improving to 5-5 inside Bill George Arena, the Golden Eagles will now travel to Wichita, Kan. to face Central Christian on Saturday (Jan. 22) afternoon. The SAC Sports Network will carry the 2 p.m. tip off live.
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