SILOAM SPRINGS -- The John Brown University women's basketball team used an 11-3 run late in the second quarter and then limited the visiting Aggies to just five field goals in the second half, allowing the Golden Eagles to run past Oklahoma Panhandle State, 63-44, on Thursday evening (Feb. 9) inside Bill George Arena.
The win was the 10th of the season for the Golden Eagles (18-6, 12-6 Sooner Athletic) when it holds opposing offenses under 30 percent shooting. JBU has now won six straight – a new season-best run.
The four lead changes all occurred in the first half, but John Brown pieced together a final 20 minutes of play that saw the hosts out-score the Aggies (3-19, 3-16) by a 31-17 margin.
A quick 8-0 OPSU run handed the lead to the visitors for the first time, 10-6, but it wouldn't last long. Junior Natalie Smith scored twice – including at the buzzer – and senior Lisa Vanoverberghe added another bucket to return the advantage back to JBU at the end of the first, 12-10.
Panhandle State used a 9-5 run to tie the score at 19 apiece in the second, but junior Leah Anderson's bucket jump-started an 11-3 run, highlighted by a pair of triples from Smith and another from sophomore Emily Sanders, pushing the John Brown lead to eight. Smith again nailed a bucket at the buzzer, keeping the margin at five, 32-27, at intermission.
The visitors shot just 5-for-31 in the second half, while John Brown boasted six scorers, including junior Bella Spindler, who came off the bench to pour in 11 second-half points. John Brown shot just shy of 40 percent in the final 20 minutes (11-of-28) until the Golden Eagles mounted a game-high 19-point lead with 3:22 left in the game.
Senior Tarrah Stephens turned in a game-high 15 points with eight rebounds and two assists. Smith continued her scoring streak by adding 14 points on a 6-of-11 shooting effort. Spindler came off the bench and scored all 11 points of her points in the second half and was efficient by hitting 3-of-5 from the field and 5-for-6 at the charity stripe. Smith and Spindler each secured eight caroms of their own.
John Brown shot 40 percent (23-of-57) and held a 42-38 advantage on the glass. The hosts dominated in the paint to the tune of 58-26.
Jamiya Eaddy was the lone Aggie to finish in double figures by scoring 12 points.
The four-game homestand continues on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 11) when the Golden Eagles welcome upstart Wayland Baptist (Texas) to Siloam Springs for a matinee showdown. The Flying Queens currently sit one place behind JBU in fifth place in the SAC standings. Tip off is slated for 2 p.m. and will be carried live on the SAC Sports Network.
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