POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. -- Despite a promising start with a pair of consecutive Caelyn Ferguson layups early in the second quarter, the John Brown University women's basketball team allowed the Bobcats to shoot nearly 60 percent in the second half in a 76-54 loss at the College of the Ozarks (Mo.) Saturday afternoon (Jan. 18) inside Keeter Gymnasium.
The Golden Eagles (9-8, 7-6 Sooner Athletic) came out firing in the first quarter, opening with a 10-6 run. Early triples from sophomore Abbey Sanders and freshman Erin Merkel sparked JBU, which maintained a 16-12 lead heading into the second quarter as freshman Carley Sexton and Ferguson added triples at the end of the period. However, the host Bobcats (12-6, 10-4) responded with a suffocating defense in the second frame, holding JBU to just six points on 2-of-11 shooting (18 percent) while building a six-point halftime lead.
Ferguson led JBU with 19 points, two rebounds, and four steals, while Merkel came off the bench to provide a career-high 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the floor, including three from beyond the arc. Sexton also shot efficiently, adding 10 points as Sanders posted eight points and four rebounds for the visitors, who managed just 32 percent shooting (19-of-59) on the afternoon.
JBU struggled to score in the paint, managing only 12 points inside against COFO's defense.
The second half belonged to the Bobcats, who dominated the boards and converted second-chance opportunities into key points with the Golden Eagles' leading scorer and rebounder, freshman Sarah Snodgrass, sidelined for the contest.
Five different Bobcats finished in double-figure scoring, paced by Susana Moran's 18 points and 14-rebound double-double. COFO produced a second double-double effort from Keara Mattingley, as she shot 6-of-9 from the floor to produce 15 points and 11 rebounds in the win. Taylor Rush (13 points), Blythe Benefield (13 points) and Logan Jones (10 points) also hit double-digit scoring as the Bobcats out-rebounded the Blue and Gold by a decisive 49-26 margin.
The third quarter saw the Bobcats build a double-digit lead, fueled by a 15-4 run midway through the frame, as Rush buried a pair of three-pointers to help stretch the gap to 17, 51-34. JBU's Merkel scored 10 of her 13 points in the period, including eight of JBU's nine points in a frame-ending 9-2 run to cut the deficit to 10 after three.
A 16-3 Bobcat run to open the fourth ended the John Brown comeback hopes, as the visitors fell into a 1-of-6 shooting rut and committed four turnovers during the 5:08 span. Ferguson scored all eight JBU points late, as the visitors rallied to score eight of the final 15 points as time expired.
The Bobcats capitalized on 12 JBU turnovers, converting them into 15 points, while the Golden Eagles only managed 11 points off COFO's miscues. COFO also posted 20 second-chance points courtesy of 12 offensive rebounds.
With the loss, the Golden Eagles will look to bounce back on Monday night (Jan. 20), when they return home to face Oklahoma City inside Bill George Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m., and the game will be broadcast live on the SAC Sports Network.
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