Sluggish second-half start hurts JBU

A slow start to the second half proved costly Saturday for the John Brown women's basketball team against Oklahoma Baptist.

Trailing 42-41 at halftime, the Golden Eagles were outscored 13-1 by the Bison to open the second half, and JBU could never catch up in a 76-73 loss at Bill George Arena.

Oklahoma Baptist 76, John Brown 73

Oklahoma Baptist 42 34 — 76

John Brown 41 32 — 73

Oklahoma Baptist (8-1, 2-0): Raquel Dudzevich 17, Charity Fowler 14, McKenzie Cooper 13, Elisabeth Daniels 11, Arielle Cooper 11, Lexi Williams 4, Katy Custer 2, Marida Lewis 2, Lilia Inoubli 2.

John Brown (3-8, 0-2): Eliana Fernandez 18, Morgan Ankrom 14, Brooke Barker 12, Lauren Rogers 12, Mariah Knox 5, Sofia Mendoza 4, Tristan Carrasquillo 3, Laura Brown 3, Hunter Glouse 2.

Oklahoma Baptist pulled ahead by as many as 13 points in the second half after that run to open the final 20 minutes. JBU (3-8, 0-2 Sooner Athletic Conference) was able to pull within 67-63 with 4:33 left in the game after a Morgan Ankrom jump shot. After OBU increased its lead back to six points with less than a minute left, Lauren Rogers hit a 3-pointer to make it 73-70.

But OBU's Elisabeth Daniels hit 3 of 4 free throws down the stretch to get the lead back up to six points. JBU's Brooke Barker hit a 3-pointer at the final horn to set the final score.

Following the game, JBU head coach Jeff Soderquist pointed back to the struggles at the start of the second half.

"OBU's good enough that you can start coming back, but eventually they're going to answer," Soderquist said. "When you get too far behind then it is hard to come back. We've got to eliminate those stretches."

The Golden Eagles led much of the first half on the strength of 18 points from senior guard Eliana Fernandez.

JBU took a 19-12 lead after Fernandez and Laura Brown hit back-to-back 3-pointers.

The Bison (8-1, 2-0) went on a 13-6 run to tie the game at 25 and would take a 37-33 lead later in the half after a layup from Katy Custer.

JBU would tie the game at 39 after a bucket from Barker, two free throws from Tristan Carrasquillo and a score from Fernandez.

The Golden Eagles took a 41-39 lead when Mariah Knox scored a basket, but OBU's Raquel Dudzevich answered with a 3-pointer at the buzzer for a 42-41 halftime lead.

It appears Dudzevich was in front of the line on the shot, but the officials still ruled it a 3-pointer as the Bison took a 1-point halftime lead.

That continued into the second half.

Dudzevich opened with another 3-pointer followed by a two-point basket. McKenzie Cooper followed with a jumper for a 49-41 lead. Cooper and Daniels then buried back-to-back 3-pointers for a 55-42 lead.

Oklahoma Baptist head coach Casi Bays said the big run to open the second half was important.

"We came out on a 13-1 run to begin the second half," Bays said. "We stayed consistent and did a good job, but (JBU) came back out and knocked some threes down and got back in the game. Overall, pleased with the 'W.'"

Dudzevich led five Bison in double figures with 17 points. Charity Fowler had 14 points, while McKenzie Cooper scored 13, and Arielle Cooper and Daniels each had 11. The Bison had 20 assists as a team.

"What I love about this group, we've got so many shooters and whoever's on that night, we want to get them the basketball," Bays said. "When you've got 20 assists going, like we did today, you've got to be pleased with moving the basketball and getting it to the shooters."

Eliana Fernandez scored all of her game-high 18 points in the first half for JBU. Ankrom had 14 points, while Rogers and Barker each had 12.

"I thought we got beat in transition, and they had 16 points in paint," Soderquist said. "We've got to do a better job on that."

JBU returned to action on Tuesday evening against Jarvis Christian (Texas). Results were not available at presstime.

The Golden Eagles wrap up the 2014 portion of their schedule on Thursday at home against Ecclesia. Tipoff is 7 p.m.

JBU will play four straight road games to open 2015 before returning home on Jan. 22 to play Southwestern Christian (Okla.).

Sports on 12/10/2014