SILOAM SPRINGS -- Three players scored in double figures on Thursday night (Feb. 8) to propel the No. 16 John Brown University women's basketball squad to a lopsided 68-31 win over North Texas at Dallas inside Bill George Arena.
After both teams failed to find any offensive rhythm through the first six minutes of action, the Golden Eagles (20-3, 17-0 Sooner Athletic) ended the first quarter on a 14-2 run over the final 3:27 and exploded to a game-high 38-point lead late in the contest.
John Brown never trailed, and shot 43 percent (23-of-54) from the field and converted on 8-of-20 attempts from long range (40 percent). Meanwhile on defense, the hosts limited the Trailblazers (3-14, 3-13) to a season-low 21 percent effort (14-of-66) and just two triples in the contest.
After a presentation of a commemorative 2,000-point basketball, senior Tarrah Stephens went on to score a game-high 19 points on an efficient 7-of-12 shooting effort. She finished off the double-double by pulling down 11 of John Brown's season-high 54 rebounds.
Freshman Briley Burns came off the bench and turned in a career night, scoring 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting – and a pair of triples – to accompany six rebounds. Senior Bella Irlenborn had a strong second half, scoring eight of her 10 points in the final 20 minutes of action. She also added eight caroms.
The Golden Eagles dominated scoring in the paint, 37-11, and kept UNTD away from the goal efficiently, allowing just one Trailblazer bucket off a second chance.
North Texas at Dallas was led by ZyUnn Cormier's 16 points – the only visitor to score in double figures – but she was held to 7-of-22 from the floor, accounting for exactly one-third of the Trailblazer shot attempts.
Freshman Clare Barger connected on all three shots from the floor, adding five points in just nine minutes.
A 16-2 John Brown run coming out of the intermission pushed the lead to 33, 48-15, with 2:16 left in the third. Burns and Irlenborn opened the fourth with consecutive triples, the latter of which coming in the old-fashioned variety at the free-throw line.
The Golden Eagles close out a quick two-game homestand on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 10) when Southwestern A.G. (Texas) makes it way to Bill George Arena for a matinee contest. The 2 p.m. scheduled tip is slated to air live on the SAC Sports Network.
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