DALLAS -- Freshman Sarah Snodgrass dropped a career-high 36 points and collected another double-double, but a nine-point deficit late was too much to overcome as the John Brown University women's basketball team fell in 74-71 fashion at North Texas at Dallas on Monday evening (Feb. 24) inside Ellis Davis Jr. Field House.
De'Asia Johnson's layup with 12 seconds left sealed the victory for the Trailblazers, dashing the Golden Eagles' (13-15, 11-13 Sooner Athletic) effort to erase a nine-point hole with just over two minutes remaining.
Snodgrass delivered one of the top individual performances of the season, shooting 13-of-28 from the floor and 8-of-9 from the free-throw line, while also adding three assists. Sophomore Abbey Sanders and senior Graci Harris each contributed nine points, with Sanders tallying five assists and four rebounds, and Harris collecting four rebounds, four assists, three steals, and a block.
John Brown opened the game strong, using a 11-7 run in the first quarter behind a Sanders triple. Largely trading buckets, the hosts 36-34 halftime lead, despite shooting just 2-of-11 from behind the arc.
In the third quarter, North Texas at Dallas surged ahead with an 11-2 run, fueled by transition baskets from Dugan. The Golden Eagles regained momentum behind Snodgrass, who scored eight points in the quarter, but JBU still entered the fourth trailing 53-47.
The Golden Eagles fought back in the final period, reclaiming the lead at 54-53 with 9:11 remaining after consecutive Snodgrass layups in transition. However, an 8-2 run rebuilt a nine-point UNTD advantage with 2:09 left in the game. Snodgrass scored six consecutive points to pull the visitors within three, 72-69, but Johnson's layup with 12 seconds left proved too much for the Blue and Gold.
Snodgrass scored 14 of her 36 in the final 10 minutes of action.
John Brown finished the game shooting 43 percent (25-of-58) from the field, 28 percent from beyond the arc, and converted 16-of-17 from the free-throw line, but was out-rebounded 37-36 and struggled against North Texas' defensive pressure.
North Texas at Dallas (9-17, 8-16) was led by Eryka Patton's 22 points and seven rebounds, while Skye Dugan nearly posted a triple-double, finishing with 20 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists. The hosts dominated the paint, outscoring JBU 54-34 inside, and took advantage of 20 Golden Eagle turnovers, converting them into 28 points.
The Golden Eagles now turn to the postseason, and will travel to Plainview, Texas to take on second-seeded Wayland Baptist in the quarterfinal round Thursday evening (Feb. 27) inside the Hutcherson Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m., and the matchup will be streamed live on the SAC Sports Network.
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