Talor Ward scored a game-high 16 points for OC in an 87-72 loss Saturday at John Brown.

SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. (Jan. 14, 2012) – Oklahoma Christian quickly fell behind by double digits and never recovered on Saturday, losing 87-72 to John Brown (Ark.) at Bill George Arena.

Talor Ward and Katy Clift each scored 16 points for OC (7-10, 2-8 Sooner Athletic Conference) as the Lady Eagles lost their fourth straight game. John Brown (9-9, 3-7) shot 44 percent from 3-point range (11 of 25) and 50 percent from the field (28 of 56), which proved to be the difference, as the Lady Eagles shot just 34.9 percent from the field (23 of 66).

"We never really got off the bus," OC coach Stephanie Findley said. "You can't beat the home team shooting under 40 percent."

John Brown jumped to leads of 7-0 and 14-2 and led 22-8 after a 3-pointer by Kortni Barenberg with 11:12 left in the first half. The Golden Eagles pushed their lead to as many as 19 points before OC closed the half on a 15-5 run. Clift's 3-pointer in the final seconds of the half pulled OC within 44-35.

A 3-pointer by Skyler Newberry with 17:42 left got OC even closer at 48-41,but John Brown answered with three straight 3-pointers – the last by Anna Parish – to rebuild its lead to 57-41 with 1:60 left.

Katy O'Steen's basket with 14:39 left pulled OC within 57-48, but that was as close as the Lady Eagles came the rest of the way, although John Brown never was able to completely pull away.

Ward went 6-of-7 from the field while recording her second double-digit scoring game of the season. Clift and O'Steen, OC's two leading scorers, both struggled from the field, with Clift finishing 4-of-15 and O'Steen going 2-of-9 while scoring 11 points.

Parish led John Brown with 18 points, while Jessica Berlin scored 17 and Lauren Rogers added 13 for the Golden Eagles.

OC's next game will be at home Thursday against St. Gregory's.