OKLAHOMA CITY -- A historic performance from sophomore Sarah Snodgrass wasn't quite enough to pull the John Brown University women's basketball team out of an early deficit on Thursday night (Dec. 4), as the Golden Eagles fell 69-63 to Oklahoma City inside Abe Lemons Arena.
Snodgrass delivered one of the most dominant individual outings in program history, scoring 33 points and securing a single-game record 24 rebounds, including eight on the offensive glass, while playing 39 minutes. Her effort powered a spirited second-half surge that saw the Golden Eagles (4-6, 2-2 Sooner Athletic) erase most of a 15-point deficit before OCU steadied late to improve to 4-5 overall and 1-3 in league action.
It was only the second 30-20 (points-rebounds) effort in program history, since Lisa Hunt's 35-point, 20-rebound effort versus Southwest Baptist (Mo.) in the 1983-84 season.
OCU built its advantage behind efficient perimeter shooting and timely bench production, opening a 19-9 lead after the first quarter and carrying a 35-22 margin into halftime. John Brown struggled to find rhythm from beyond the arc early, missing its first 13 attempts from distance as the Stars used a 27-0 bench-scoring advantage to preserve control for much of the opening half.
The game flipped after the break. Behind Snodgrass' presence and the 11 second-half points from sophomore Caelyn Ferguson, the Golden Eagles struck for 26 third-quarter points, shooting 56 percent (9-of-16) from the floor and knocking down four triples in the frame.
John Brown trimmed the margin to one possession late in the third and early into the fourth quarter, but the Stars answered with timely drives and free throws to fend off the comeback bid. JBU had looks from behind the arc to close the gap further, but finished 2-for-12 from three in the final period.
Ferguson finished with 17 points on the night and added five rebounds, three assists and three steals. Junior Abbey Sanders added seven points and three rebounds, while JBU posted a 45-36 rebounding advantage in the loss. The Golden Eagles kept pace with City in the paint, 34-32, and generated 14 points off turnovers, but could not fully overcome the slow start and the Stars' bench output.
John Brown returns to action on Saturday afternoon (Dec. 6), traveling to face Southwestern Christian in a 2 p.m. contest. The SAC Sports Network and the Urban Edge Network will carry the action live from Bethany, Okla.
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