BETHANY, Okla. -- Powered by a combined 51 points from sophomore Sarah Snodgrass and junior Abbey Sanders and a composed overtime response after trailing by eight in the third quarter, the John Brown University women's basketball team earned a 73-67 road victory over Southwestern Christian (Okla.) on Saturday afternoon (Dec. 6) inside Pickens-Springer Gymnasium.
Snodgrass followed up a record-breaking performance with another double-double – her eighth of the season, finishing with 31 points and 13 rebounds on 12-of-20 shooting. Sanders added 20 points on an efficient 6-of-8 afternoon, drilling four triples and knocking down all four free throws attempted in overtime. The duo combined for eight of JBU's 10 points in the extra period, as the Blue and Gold (5-6, 3-2 Sooner Athletic) ended a brief two-game skid.
After SCU (5-5, 2-4) used a 17-point third quarter to erase JBU's narrow halftime edge and build a 49-45 advantage, the Golden Eagles outscored the hosts 18-14 in the fourth, navigating turnover pressure and capitalizing at the foul line to force overtime.
The late push set the stage for a composed extra period in which JBU shot 60 percent from the field and held SCU to 1-of-8 shooting overall. The visitors finished the afternoon 44 percent (24-of-55) from the field overall and just 33 percent from behind the arc, but converted at the charity stripe at a 78 percent clip (18-of-23).
Southwestern Christian opened the overtime frame with a jumper from Kaydrin Scott, but sophomore Caelyn Ferguson answered immediately with a tying basket in the lane. Chrissen Harland briefly restored SCU's lead with a pair of free throws, but Snodgrass countered with consecutive paint touches to flip the scoreboard back in JBU's favor.
Sanders supplied the finishing margin, hitting four free throws across two trips in the final 19 seconds as the Golden Eagles closed the game by outscoring SCU 10-2 after the opening overtime basket. SCU's last field goal came at the 3:46 mark, as JBU forced five straight misses to end the contest.
Snodgrass' outing anchored every phase of JBU's effort. The sophomore guard scored in all five periods, controlled defensive possessions with 12 boards on that end of the floor, and initiated nearly every late-game scoring sequence while committing just one turnover in 36 minutes. Her nine assists marked a career high and left her one shy of the program's first triple-double in more than two decades.
Ferguson, registering her first double-double of the year, supplied a steady interior presence with 13 points and 11 rebounds, converting 7-of-8 from the line and providing JBU's first answer in overtime. Freshman Tayla Trammell added six rebounds and two assists while spacing the floor with a pair of threes.
JBU's collective presence on the glass shaped the outcome as much as its late-game shooting. The Golden Eagles finished with a 51-34 rebounding advantage, grabbing 42 defensive rebounds and limiting SCU to one shot on many key possessions down the stretch and in the extra period.
The margin helped offset 24 JBU turnovers – 14 of which came in the second half – and a 25-0 advantage in points off turnovers for the hosts. JBU also received 32 points in the paint while attempting only nine throws through the first three quarters before converting 12-of-14 across the fourth and overtime.
Scott led Southwestern Christian with 19 points, seven rebounds and three assists, while Harland added 18 points, including 5-of-6 from the line, and six rebounds. Carmella Jefferson chipped in 12 points off the bench. The Eagles shot 35 percent (24-of-69) for the game and just 29 percent from deep (5-of-17), buoyed briefly by a strong third quarter but unable to sustain their rhythm after reclaiming the lead late in regulation.
The Golden Eagles return home for a pair of contests before Christmas break, beginning with a 6 p.m. contest against Mid-America Christian (Okla.) inside Bill George Arena. The Thursday evening (Dec. 11) contest will be carried live on the SAC Sports Network and the Urban Edge Network.
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