McPHERSON, Kan. -- Senior Natalie Smith poured in a game-high six triples and the Golden Eagles out-rebounded the Bulldogs by a 31-24 margin as the John Brown University women's basketball team bested McPherson (Kan.), 67-47, to open the 2023-24 season on Friday (Nov. 3) night inside the Sport Center.
All of Smith's game-high 18 points came from behind the arc (6-of-12), and she added five assists and a pair of rebounds as the Golden Eagles (1-0) used a lopsided 15-7 scoring advantage in the second quarter to open a six-point lead at the intermission.
The Bulldogs (0-1) couldn't get closer than eight points after committing nine turnovers in the third quarter alone, as the visitors made McPherson pay for its 22 turnover by scoring 24 points off the miscues.
Senior Bella Irlenborn drained a triple in the fourth and added another bucket, while freshman Abbey Sanders pulled down three fourth-quarter rebounds as the Golden Eagles ran away in the team's first-ever meeting in program history.
Junior Emily Sanders scored 13 points on 4-of-6 shooting while adding a 4-of-4 night at the line to accompany four boards. Irlenborn hit 4-of-5 overall from the floor to finish with 12 points and six rebounds. Junior Graci Harris rounded out JBU's four double-digit scorers with 11 points and five rebounds.
Abbey Sanders had a nice collegiate debut, scoring four points to join four rebounds and four assists.
John Brown ended the evening shooting 43 percent (24-of-56) from the floor, but connected on 11-of-30 triples attempted (37 percent). The Bulldogs were limited to 39 percent efficiency from the field (16-of-41) and hit just four triples. The hosts were unable to overcome a negative eight turnover margin and a negative seven rebounding disadvantage.
Madelyn Hankins led McPherson with 12 points. Matisyn Moses also scored 10 in the loss.
John Brown closes out the McPheron Classic on Saturday (Nov. 4) afternoon, when the Golden Eagles take on No. 12 Briar Cliff (Iowa) at noon.
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