McPHERSON, Kan. -- The John Brown University women's basketball team converted 21 turnovers into 23 points and used 31 points off the bench to take down Central Christian (Kan.), 68-41, on the road on Thursday night (Dec. 1) inside Jerry Alexander Arena.
Senior Tarrah Stephens scored a team-leading 14 points and pulled down nine boards and junior Bella Spindler came off the bench to provide 11 points and nine rebounds as the Golden Eagles (7-2, 1-2 Sooner Athletic) grabbed its first league win of the year and continued a two-game winning streak.
Senior Lisa Vanoverberghe tallied nine points and graduate student Maci Mains hit three triples to also contributed nine points. Six players came off the bench to provide an average of just over six points apiece.
John Brown jumped out to a 15-point lead by the end of the first quarter, with Stephens scoring 10 of her 14 in the first 10 minutes of play. The Tigers (0-8, 0-4) began the game just 3-of-11 from the field and committed eight turnovers as the visitors carried a 22-7 advantage into the second quarter.
After Central Christian began the second on a quick 5-0 run, John Brown responded with a 15-5 run of its own – hitting 6-of-12 from the field – to rebuild the lead to 20 at the half, 37-17. CCCK finished the quarter 0-for-10 from the floor, scoring its five point from the line.
The third quarter was the closest period of the evening, with JBU edging its hosts 14-13 to push a 21-point lead into the final quarter. Triples from sophomore Emily Sanders and Mains propelled the Golden Eagle advantage.
Scoring the first seven points of the period, seven different Golden Eagles figured in the scoring through the final 10 minutes. Sanders, Spindler, senior Jessica Goldman and junior Elise Cone all poured in one triple each, with Spindler's trey pushing the John Brown lead to a game-high 28 points, 65-37, with just under two minutes left in the game.
JBU hit 36 percent of its shots (26-of-72) and out-rebounded the Tigers, 50-37. Central Christian finished the evening with a difficult 25 percent efficiency from the floor (13-of-52), but scored 20 percent of its points from the charity stripe (8-for-11).
The Golden Eagles will carry its two-game streak into Saturday's matchup with Langston (Okla.) inside Bill George Arena. Tip is scheduled for 2 p.m. and will be carried live on the SAC Sports Network.
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