LAKELAND, Fla. -- Senior Tarrah Stephens returned to form and scored a team-leading 21 points shooting over 50 percent from the floor, but the Golden Eagles couldn't overcome a cold shooting performance as St. Thomas (Fla.) handed the John Brown University women's basketball team a 77-56 loss on Friday (Nov. 17) evening inside The Furnace.
Stephens hit 9-of-17 from the floor and nearly completed her first double-double of the early season with nine rebounds and a pair of assists. Junior Emily Sanders and senior Natalie Smith each scored a dozen apiece, but a 20-of-62 shooting performance was overshadowed by a Bobcats (3-2) squad that scored at a 41 percent clip (27-of-66) – including five more buckets from behind the arc.
John Brown (2-3) won the turnover battle, 17-16, but allowed St. Thomas to convert 17 offensive rebounds into 13 second-chance points. The Bobcats also heavily won the battle of the boards, 50-36, with five players recording at least six caroms.
Leading 10-5 in the early goings, fueled by eight points from Stephens, the Golden Eagles shot 47 percent (7-of-15) in the first quarter, but four STU triples aided the Bobcats in tying the score before the end of the stanza at 21.
A combined 7-of-36 (19 percent) from the field over the next 20 minutes made it difficult for John Brown as St. Thomas used the offensive dry spell to mount a 15-point lead, 55-40, entering the final quarter.
The fourth quarter was much tighter as JBU rediscovered its shooting touch, hitting 55 percent of its attempts (6-of-11) from the field. The Bobcats, meanwhile, countered the renewed John Brown offense by securing six offensive rebounds and draining five of its 13 triples in the final 10 minutes of action.
Brooke Bogatz sank 6-of-9 from behind the arc and finished the night with a game-high 25 points, adding six rebounds and four assists for the Bobcats. Bria Brown added 14 points, while Marta Franco contributed 11 points, seven assists and six rebounds in St. Thomas' second-consecutive win.
John Brown will conclude its time in Florida on Saturday (Nov. 18) evening when it faces classic host Southeastern (Fla.) at 6 p.m. The Golden Eagles will then return home and rest for nine days before opening Sooner Athletic action on Tuesday (Nov. 28) night inside Bill George Arena versus Oklahoma City.
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