Box score
SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. (Jan. 3, 2009) – No. 12 Oklahoma Christian University suffered its first Sooner Athletic Conference defeat of the season at the hands of John Brown University (Ark.) 65-52 in Northwest Arkansas on Saturday night.
The Lady Eagles' only lead of the game came at the 5:09 point of the second half at 47-46, but an 11-0 John Brown rally ensued to put the game in the win column for the Golden Eagles. OC dipped to 10-2 overall and 3-1 in the SAC, while JBU moved to 8-5 and 2-3 in league play.
Neither team came out of the gates particularly hot on Saturday night, but JBU managed to construct a 13-9 lead by the halfway point of the opening half. The Golden Eagles led 16-9 at the 8:38 mark, but OC's Devin Sewell sunk a three pointer on the other end to bring it back to 16-12.
The Lady Eagles couldn't pull any closer in the first half though. JBU used a 13-5 run to go up 29-17 with two minutes left until intermission. The lead was still 12 points before OC got a Haley Myers free throw and a Tarynn Branscum fastbreak score in the final minute to pull within 31-22 at the break.
JBU's Ashley Taylor had 12 first-half points to lead all scorers. OC was led by Lindsey Gipson's five points at halftime.
OC got two free throws apiece from Gipson and Hillary Duncan to draw within five points (31-26) in the first three minutes of the second half. Less than two minutes later, JBU was back up 10 when LaNece Glossett hit a three to make it 36-26.
Then Kailan DeCamp scored the game's next nine points to get the Lady Eagles back within a single point. Her long two pointer with 14:10 to play made it a 36-35 game. OC failed to get over the hump and take its first lead despite pulling within one point on two more occasions in the next three-plus minutes.
But OC's defense – which ranks No. 1 in the NAIA in field-goal percentage allowed – kept the game close. JBU never extended its lead past five points and Myers converted a pair of foul shots with 5:09 to play to give OC its first lead of the contest at 47-46.
The Golden Eagles quickly reclaimed the advantage with a Micaela Cully corner-pocket trey on the other end. Kennedy then tied it at 49-49 with 4:22 on the clock. But JBU sprayed off 11 unanswered points – highlighted by triples from Emily Ortiz and Taylor – to take control for good.
Taylor finished with a game-best 27 points on 10-of-13 free-throw shooting. She also added 12 rebounds for a double-double. Duncan was the only Lady Eagle in double figures with 10 points. Kennedy, Gipson and DeCamp each added nine points. Duncan and Kennedy both collected eight boards.
The win was just the fourth for JBU in its past 11 games vs. OC. The Golden Eagles also won in Siloam Springs a year ago, 63-59.
OC gets back on the horse on Monday night in a home contest with Rogers State University (Okla.). Game time is set for 6 p.m. in the Eagles' Nest.
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