SILOAM SPRINGS -- The John Brown University women's basketball team raced out to a 9-2 lead and led by as many as 25 points to split the season series with North Texas at Dallas, knocking off the Trailblazers 74-56 on Thursday evening (Jan. 27) inside Bill George Arena.
Senior Maddie Altman led all Golden Eagles (11-12, 7-8 Sooner Athletic) to its fourth-consecutive win, shooting 5-of-7 from the field and 4-of-5 from behind the arc to score 16 points. She added three assists and four steals.
Two other Golden Eagles finished in double-figure scoring, including Junior Tarrah Stephens' contribution of 15 points and seven rebounds. Sophomore Natalie Smith hit four triples to end the evening with 14 points.
Junior Lisa Vanoverberghe tied a career high with a game-best 10 rebounds and freshman Emily Sanders passed out five of John Brown's 19 assists on 25 field goals.
JBU ran out to a 9-2 lead as the visiting Trailblazers began the game shooting just 1-of-6 from the floor. UNT Dallas would pull within four, but a Marta Matamala layup in transition made way for an Emily Sanders triple at the buzzer to build a seven-point lead after one period, 16-9.
A pair of Stephens buckets and five points from Altman propelled the hosts to a 13-4 run to open the second quarter, forcing a 16-point lead, 29-13. While the lead would be whittled back to nine, two triples from Altman and another from Sanders continued the offensive onslaught as JBU ended the half on an 11-2 run. JBU shot a perfect 4-of-4 during the stretch to carry an 18-point lead, 40-22, into the intermission.
Smith opened the second half with a triple and followed it up with another jumper from Stephens as the Golden Eagles used an 11-5 period-opening rally to blow open a 51-27 lead. An 0-of-7 stretch at the end of the third allowed UNTD to pull within 19 points entering the last quarter.
The Trailblazers began the fourth strong and squeezed the margin back to 16, but after Altman fed freshman Graci Harris on the fast break for a bucket and followed up with a triple of her own, John Brown enjoyed a game-high 25-point lead, 67-42.
UNT Dallas scored 14 of the game's final 21 points after the Golden Eagle starters took a well-earned rest during a three-game week.
Delyssa Miller did it all for the visitors, scoring a game-high 27 points on 10-of-25 shooting. She completed the double-double with 10 of her team's 41 rebounds. Tamia Miller added 15 points and eight rebounds in the loss.
John Brown finished 25-of-66 from the floor (38 percent), but out-rebounded UNT Dallas, 47-41. The Golden Eagles' reserves out-scored the UNTD bench 16-4, and the hosts owned the paint to the tune of 50-30. UNTD shot just 31 percent (21-of-68) from the floor and committed 14 turnovers.
The Golden Eagles are back at home Saturday afternoon (Jan. 29), hosting Southwestern A.G. (Texas). The game will be broadcast live on the SAC Sports Network.
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