SILOAM SPRINGS -- Thirteen of 14 players scored while head coach Jeff Soderquist emptied the bench, and the No. 21 John Brown University women's basketball team never trailed in a 78-43 season series-sweeping win over Central Christian (Kan.) on Thursday night (Jan. 25) inside Bill George Arena.
𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗦, 𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗔𝗛 𝗢𝗡 𝟚,𝟘𝟘𝟘 ℂ𝔸ℝ𝔼𝔼ℝ ℙ𝕆𝕀ℕ𝕋𝕊!! Tonight, Tarrah joined Baily Cameron '19 as the only two Golden Eagles to...
Posted by John Brown University Athletics on Thursday, January 25, 2024
The Golden Eagles (16-3, 13-0 Sooner Athletic) ran away with its 14th consecutive victory by piecing together a 26-6 lead after the first quarter and maintained a double-digit lead for the remainder of the evening.
Senior Tarrah Stephens scored 10 points and became the second Golden Eagle in program history to cross the 2,000 career points threshold, joining Baily Cameron '19. Stephens is just 34 points away from breaking the program's all-time scoring record.
Senior Natalie Smith directed the John Brown offensive effort from the start, pouring in five triples in the first 10 minutes of action. Smith actually dished out three assists in the first quarter, allowing her to either score or assist on all 21 of JBU's game-opening points.
Smith finished the contest with 23 points, including a 6-of-7 effort from behind the arc, and passing out six assists – joining Stephens as the lone double-digit scorers. Freshman Briley Burns came off the bench to provide a career-high seven points on 3-of-5 shooting, and a trio of Golden Eagles – seniors Emily Sanders, Bella Irlenborn and Leah Anderson each contributed six points apiece.
Stephens' seven rebounds paced the John Brown effort on the glass, as the hosts enjoyed a 45-33 advantage. JBU turned 12 offensive caroms into 11 second-chance points and limited the Tigers (4-14, 0-12) to just two second-chance points despite 11 opportunities.
After the first-quarter romp and 56 percent shooting efficiency, the Golden Eagles used another lopsided quarter to place the game out of reach. A 20-7 scoring advantage in the second ballooned the overall margin to 33 before the half, 46-13.
Central Christian shot just 26 percent (15-of-58), marking John Brown's third-best defensive effort of the season. It was the eighth time this season the Golden Eagle defense held its opponent under 50 points, and JBU is 8-0 in those contests.
Olivia Bell drained four triples and led CCCK with 16 points, while Kylee Jones added 10. Amanda Dotter's effort was rewarded with 11 rebounds, a game-high mark.
The Golden Eagles will now complete its three-game week with a tall order on Saturday (Jan. 27) afternoon when John Brown travels to Langston, Okla. to take on the second-place Lions (15-3, 10-2) inside the C.F. Gayles Fieldhouse in matinee action. The contest between the league's top two programs will air live on the SAC Sports Network.
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