FORT WORTH, Texas -- In a low-scoring affair in which points were at a premium, the Golden Eagles' defense allowed just 15 first half points and, paired with a lopsided second quarter, culminated in the No. 13 John Brown University women's basketball team's 53-42 win over Langston (Okla.) in the Sooner Athletic tournament finals on Tuesday night (March 5) inside the Sid Richardson Center.
The tournament crown is the first in program history, as the Golden Eagles (28-3) improved to 1-1 all-time in the SAC tournament championship round.
"What a performance tonight, and it took everything we had," admitted head coach Jeff Soderquist after leading John Brown to a 26th consecutive win. "We've been a great defensive team all year, and we had to have it again tonight. When you play somebody three times, they know what we're doing and we know what they're doing, but both teams did well defensively tonight."
Senior Tarrah Stephens, later named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, scored 15 of her game-high 26 points in the second quarter – matching the Lions' (24-7) total scoring output of the first half. She also completed her fourth double-double of the season, pulling down 11 rebounds, including 10 in the backcourt, helping stymie one of the nation's best offensive rebounding teams. Langston finished the night with just eight second chances.
"[Tarrah] is just so versatile – she can post up, she can drive and she can shoot threes," Soderquist added. "She's just so difficult to guard. You have to guard her outside the three-point line and inside because she moves so well. We needed all [10] of her defensive rebounds tonight."
JBU limited the Lions to just eight offensive rebounds (17 percent) on 46 missed shots.
Particularly in the second quarter, the Golden Eagle defense held the two seed to 2-of-17 from the floor, and 15-of-61 (25 percent) on the night. The effort was the fourth-best of the season for the Golden Eagles, which have held opponents under 30 percent shooting four times this season.
On a night when the patented John Brown three-point shooting was unavailable (2-of-17), the 2023-24 SAC regular season champs leaned on its scoring depth, despite Stephens' dominance. Seven of nine Golden Eagles scored, including key contributions from senior Leah Anderson with seven points on a perfect 3-of-3 shooting night and six points via junior Graci Harris.
Three lead changes in the first quarter accompanied a feeling-out process as neither team shot better than 20 percent. Langston carried the lead into the second, but after a narrow 11-10 advantage, the Golden Eagles took over.
Already with four points in the quarter, Stephens then took over and dominated a 15-4 run that elapsed the final 6:29 of the second period that included a trio old-fashioned three-point plays. The Lions shot 1-of-11 during the stretch, and JBU converted a one-point deficit into a 10-point lead, 25-15, at the intermission.
The squads traded buckets nearly the entirety of the third, but freshman Abbey Sanders' lone triple of the night came at a pivotal moment, with 39 seconds left in the third, extending the John Brown lead to 12 and offered the top seed a little more breathing room entering a fourth quarter – and assuredly a final Langston push.
The JBU defense stepped up again, holding the Lions without a point for nearly the first three minutes of the final stanza. Harris fed senior Emily Sanders for a layup and then added a pair at the free throws with 4:47 left to complete John Brown's largest lead of the game at 14, 44-30, but when senior Natalie Smith fed Anderson downcourt on the fast break with 2:42 left for an and-one, the Lions' comeback effort had been finally put to rest.
Smith went 4-for-4 in the final 39 seconds from the charity stripe to ensure the double-digit win.
Although the Golden Eagles were held to 35 percent (17-of-48) from the field, the Blue and Gold converted 17-of-20 at the line, its second-best effort of the season.
Hailey Jordan and Koreea Kirksey each scored 10 for Langston, which had entered the title game winners in seven of its last eight outings.
Smith also earned All-Tournament honors, joining Stephens, during the postgame ceremonies.
The Golden Eagles now await which three teams will join them in the Siloam Springs bracket in the NAIA National Women's Basketball Championships First & Second Rounds, scheduled for March 15-16 inside Bill George Arena. The winner of the four-team field will advance to the Round of 16 in Sioux City, Iowa. The official NAIA Selection Show is slated for 7 p.m. on Thursday evening (March 7) live on the NAIA YouTube channel.
FOLLOW THE GOLDEN EAGLES
Don't miss a minute of the latest action surrounding JBU Athletics by following the Golden Eagles on Twitter (@JBUathletics), Instagram (@JBUathletics) and Facebook (/JBUathletics). Catch every Golden Eagle home game and select away games on the SAC Sports Network, available online or for download on your favorite streaming device.
