OKLAHOMA CITY -- Senior Bella Irlenborn scored a game-high 15 points and led a trio of Golden Eagles in double-figure scoring and the No. 21 John Brown University women's basketball team protected the ball in the second half and used a 47 percent true shooting percentage to dispatch Oklahoma City, 70-46, on Tuesday night (Jan. 23) inside Abe Lemons Arena.
With the win, the Golden Eagles (15-3, 12-0 Sooner Athletic) continued its win streak to a program record 13, won its third-ever game inside Abe Lemons Arena, and swept the season series with the Stars for just the second time ever.
Back on Nov. 28 in Siloam Springs, JBU took down City by the exact same score, 70-46.
Despite committing nine first-half turnovers, John Brown responded with just one miscue in the second half and shot 48 percent (15-of-31) from the field in the final 20 minutes, pulling away in the fourth quarter. JBU has now won eight games during the 2023-24 campaign by at least 20 points.
With its 12th league win of the season, John Brown surpassed last season's total (11-11) just one game into the second round of regular season play.
The visitors shot better than 40 percent inside and beyond the arc, finishing at 46 percent (28-of-61) overall and 8-of-19 from long range (42 percent). At the line, three different players hit a tandem of chances as the Golden Eagles converted 6-of-8 (75 percent).
Conversely, armed with just one reserve, the Stars (5-13, 4-8) could only score at a 35 percent clip (19-of-55) and a meager 21 percent from three-point range (3-of-14).
Amaya Gordon and Jerzie Bryant each scored 15 for City in the loss, with Gordon earning a double-double with 10 boards.
Joining Bella Irlenborn, who led John Brown in scoring for the first time this season, was senior Tarrah Stephens and her 14 points and eight rebounds. Stephens added four assists, a pair of thefts and a block. Junior Emily Sanders couldn't miss, hitting all four chances from the field – two from behind the arc – to add 10 points and three assists in the win.
Sanders took over the game early – scoring seven of JBU's 18 first-quarter points, allowing the visitors to enjoy a 10-point lead after the first stanza. Both teams scored 13 in the second and the Golden Eagles edged Oklahoma City by three points in the third before a 9-of-16 shooting blitz in the fourth quarter produced JBU's largest lead of the game – 24 points and the difference in the final score.
The Golden Eagles will continue its run through Sooner Athletic play Thursday night (Jan. 25) against Central Christian (Kan.) inside Bill George Arena at 6 p.m. The game can be streamed live on the SAC Sports Network.
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