OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Golden Eagles offense hit 13 triples (41 percent) and forced the host Evangels into 16 turnovers as the John Brown University women's basketball team successfully set a new program record with its 10th-straight win, this time fending off the preseason conference favorite, No. 17 Mid-America Christian (Okla.), by a 70-62 final on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 13) inside the Gaulke Activity Center.
With the win, the Golden Eagles (12-3, 9-0 Sooner Athletic) surpass the program's previous single-season winning streak of nine and maintain its grip on the league's top spot in the standings still undefeated. JBU also improved to 7-3 away from Siloam Springs this season.
Three different Golden Eagles poured in three triples apiece in senior Tarrah Stephens, freshman Abbey Sanders and senior Natalie Smith, allowing JBU to improve to 7-0 this season when scoring double-digit threes in a contest.
Five ties and seven lead changes peppered the competitive first quarter with the teams combining for nine triples on 13 made buckets, with the visitors holding a one-point lead, 20-19.
Although Jaci Calavan opened the scoring with a layup in the second, the Golden Eagles took control for good after a quick 8-0 run thanks to a trio of assists from Smith and a pair of buckets from senior Bella Irlenborn, giving the visitors a 28-21 advantage. The teams held pace the remainder of the half, and triples from Sanders and freshman Briley Burns helped maintain an eight-point JBU lead at the half, 40-32.
A quick 9-2 Evangel run to open the second half pulled the hosts within two points, the slimmest margin since early in the second quarter, but that would end quickly after John Brown rallied on a 13-4 run to close out the third – ignited by a Graci Harris triple, consecutive Sanders' triples and an Irlenborn layup – and move the momentum squarely with the Blue and Gold.
MACU (10-5, 4-5) responded with a quick 10-5 spurt to open the fourth to crawl within six, but Stephens buried a jumper and Smith drained her third triple on the next possession, releasing the growing momentum building inside Gaulke and returning the lead to 11, 66-55. Sanders and Smith each converted a pair at the line down the stretch to fend off any remaining Evangel thoughts of a comeback bid.
Stephens finished with a game-high 21 points, her second-straight 20-point outing, shooting 8-of-16 overall and 3-of-3 from long range. Sanders contributed a massive 13 points off the bench, connecting on 4-of-7 from the field, while Irlenborn and Smith each posted 11 points a four rebounds.
Smith dished out a career-best nine assists as 92 percent of John Brown's field goals were assisted (22-of-24).
Both teams shot similarly over 40 percent, but the Golden Eagles were able to attempt 10 more field goals thanks to seven offensive rebounds and 16 Mid-America Christian miscues. The visitors committed only eight turnovers in the win.
Kylee Scheer went 3-of-4 from behind the arc and 5-of-7 overall off the bench to lead the hosts in scoring with 15 points. Calavan and Alexis Borgstadt each notched a 13-point effort in MACU's second consecutive loss of the week.
The Golden Eagles and its perfect SAC record return to action on Thursday night (Jan. 18) when John Brown travels to the Sid Richardson Center in Fort Worth to take on Texas Wesleyan at 6 p.m. The match will be broadcast live on the SAC Sports Network.
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