SILOAM SPRINGS -- While a 12-0 opening run eventually dissipated, the Golden Eagles used a pivotal third quarter – a 24-11 scoring advantage – and kept the visiting Evangels to 20 points below its scoring average as the John Brown University women's basketball team upended No. 20 Mid-America Christian (Okla.), 75-58, on Saturday (Feb. 12) afternoon inside Bill George Arena.
The John Brown (14-14, 10-10 Sooner Athletic) win snapped the Evangels' 14-game winning streak and all but ensured MACU loses out on a share of the Sooner Athletic regular season crown.
After being honored for joining the 1,000 point club and earning the NAIA's National Player of the Week honors, junior Tarrah Stephens opened the contest with a triple and the Golden Eagles were off an running to a 12-0 lead just 2:29 into the contest. Sophomore Natalie Smith added a triple of her own and five total points during the rally before MACU could find the scoreboard.
The Evangels (23-3, 16-3) pulled within three, 17-14, after a 14-5 response, but consecutive buckets from Stephens and Smith rebuilt the lead momentarily. Freshman Graci Harris' triple at the first quarter buzzer gave the hosts a six-point cushion, 24-18.
The second quarter saw the only two ties of the afternoon at 26 and 28 apiece. The Evangels took its first and only lead of the contest, 31-28, before senior Maddie Altman's layup was followed up by Smith's jumper to hand the hosts a five-point edge, 38-33, entering the intermission. Then, the third quarter happened.
While both teams shot at or near 50 percent in the first half, the John Brown defense and offense kicked up a notch in a major way.
The Golden Eagles out-scored Mid-America Christian 24-11 in the third, holding the visitors to 3-of-12 (25 percent) shooting overall and just 1-of-7 from behind the arc. JBU responded with a 9-of-13 (69 percent) efficiency – including four triples to turn the tide and build a game-high 20-point lead before the end of the quarter.
With a 47-40 lead, senior Marta Matamala's triple from the right arc jump-started a 15-4 quarter-closing run that saw a second timely Matamala trey and a pair of buckets from Smith over the final 4:33 of the period.
Despite MACU scoring the first five points of the fourth to whittle the lead to 13 – the closest the visitors would pull within – another Matamala triple placed a dagger in the comeback bid as the John Brown defense forced the visitors to shoot a mere 22 percent (5-of-23) in the fourth quarter.
Stephens, Smith and freshman Emily Sanders all converted their respective attempts in the final 90 seconds to ice the contest.
Stephens led all scorers with 21 points on 8-of-13 shooting. She nearly completed the double-double with nine rebounds to pace JBU's 41-35 rebounding advantage. Smith continued her light-out shooting, hitting 7-of-9 from the floor to finish with 18 points, while Altman added 11 points, four assists and three rebounds.
Matamala came off the bench to provide a well-needed 11 points on 3-of-4 shooting from long range.
Reserve Abby Bird led the Evangels with 12 points and seven rebounds, while Lexi Hernandez and Presley Payahsape each contributed 11 points apiece as the Evangels fell to 9-6 all-time in Bill George Arena.
While shooting just 9-of-27 from behind the arc, the Golden Eagles hit 19-of-32 (59 percent) inside the arc, and limited the Evangels to just 14 second-chance points.
John Brown returns to action on Thursday (Feb. 17) evening in Chickasha where the Golden Eagles take on Science & Arts (Okla.) at 6 p.m. The matchup will air live on the SAC Sports Network.
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