CHICKASHA, Okla. -- Behind the fifth 30-point performance of the season from sophomore Sarah Snodgrass - along with a 29-point fourth quarter offensive outburst - the John Brown University women's basketball team overcame turnovers with rebounding and shooting efficiency to close out an impressive 89-81 road win over Science & Arts on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 31) inside the Drover Fieldhouse.
Snodgrass led the Golden Eagles (8-13, 6-9 SAC), winners in two of its last three, with a game-high 32 points, shooting 14-of-19 from the field while collecting 19 rebounds. Sophomore Caelyn Ferguson followed with a 23 points, a season high, knocking down 4-of-7 from three-point range and converting all five of her attempts at the stripe. Junior Abbey Sanders added 13 points and distributed the most assists in a single game in a decade (11), while freshman Oaklee Lofton finished with 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting to give John Brown four scorers in double figures.
John Brown opened the game shooting 60 percent from the field (9-of-15) in the first quarter and held a 28-23 advantage after 10 minutes. The Blue and Gold extended the margin briefly in the second quarter, building a nine-point lead late in the half before carrying a 45-39 advantage into the break.
Science & Arts narrowed the gap in the third quarter, outscoring JBU 24-15 behind interior scoring and transition chances to take a 63-60 lead into the fourth quarter.
John Brown reclaimed control in the final period by opening the frame on a 13-2 run over the first 4:24 of the quarter. Ferguson began the rally with a triple, and added another layup after Snodgrass' layup to take the lead, 67-65. Then, Snodgrass and Sanders connected on consecutive triples to open up a six-point lead, and finished shooting 60 percent from the field (9-of-15) and 56 percent from three-point range (5-of-9) in the fourth quarter while converting 6-of-11 at the free-throw line. JBU outscored the Drovers 29-18 in the period.
Despite committing 25 turnovers that Science & Arts converted into 25 points, John Brown offset the disparity with efficiency and rebounding. The Golden Eagles finished the game shooting 49 percent from the field (31-of-63) and 37 percent from three-point range (13-of-35) while winning the rebounding battle 45-29, including an 11-2 advantage in second-chance points.
Science & Arts (15-6, 10-5 SAC) shot 37 percent overall (29-of-78) and 17 percent from beyond the arc (3-of-18). The Drovers held advantages in points in the paint (50-34) and fast-break points (31-6), but were unable to match the Blue and Gold's fourth-quarter shooting efficiency.
Chaniya Felton led Science & Arts with 25 points on 11-of-25 shooting. Evangelia Davlakou and Ti'Alone Banks each finished with 14 points, while Mya Brown added 11.
JBU returns to action on Monday afternoon (Feb. 2) when the Golden Eagles face Nelson (Texas) in a make-up game that was originally scheduled for Jan. 24. Tip is scheduled for 5 p.m. and will air live on the SAC Sports Network and the Urban Edge Network.
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