BETHANY, Okla. -- The John Brown University women's basketball team leaned on a balanced offensive attack of five players in double-figure scoring and clutch overtime play to secure its first true road win of the season in a 68-63 overtime victory at Southwestern Christian (Okla.) on Saturday afternoon (Nov. 23) inside Pickens-Springer Gymnasium.
The Golden Eagles (4-3, 2-1 Sooner Athletic) were led by freshman Riley Gottsponer, who tallied 19 points on a 6-of-8 shooting effort, including an impressive 4-of-5 afternoon from long range. Freshman Caelyn Ferguson added 18 points – a career high – and five rebounds, while freshman Sarah Snodgrass posted her fifth double-double of the year with 11 points and 14 rebounds.
Senior Graci Harris and sophomore Abbey Sanders each contributed 10 points in the win.
Despite shooting 35.8 percent from the field (19-of-53) and 33.3 percent from beyond the arc (8-of-24), JBU converted 22-of-31 attempts at the charity stripe, while Southwestern Christian attempted only nine over 45 minutes of action. The Golden Eagles also won the battle of the boards, holding a 48-37 rebounding edge and generating eight second-chance points.
JBU jumped out to its largest lead of the game, a 10-point margin, at the 7:42 mark of the second quarter. Gottsponer fueled the surge with eight of her 19 points coming in the first half. However, SCU clawed back with a 12-2 run, eventually tying the game at 28 heading into the halftime break.
Ferguson scored 10 of her 18 points in the third quarter where a 16-7 John Brown run built a nine-point lead, but a response 8-0 run over the final 1:11 of the third pulled the hosts within one, 46-45.
Four ties peppered the final quarter, but Gottsponer's timely three-pointer late and a Snodgrass bucket with 65 seconds remaining pulled the Blue and Gold even, forcing overtime.
After trading buckets to open overtime, SCU hit a pair at the line to take a brief one-possession advantage, but Gottsponer hit her fourth trey of the afternoon and the Golden Eagles finished the final 2:39 of the extra period with a 9-2 run to seal the win.
Delaney Reimer led Southwestern Christian (2-6, 1-4) with 14 points on 5-of-15 shooting, including 3-of-9 from behind the arc. Chrissen Harland chipped in 13 points with three triples, while Kennedy Allison added 14 points and nine rebounds. The Eagles controlled the paint, 26-2-0.
After Thanksgiving break, JBU returns to action on Tuesday (Nov. 26) when the Golden Eagles travel to Oklahoma City to face the upstart Stars live on the SAC Sports Network. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
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