The John Brown women's basketball team didn't have an answer Thursday for Mid-America Christian's 27-4 run, which turned a 14-point JBU lead into a nine-point deficit in an eventual loss to the Evangels.
On Saturday against Texas Wesleyan, the Golden Eagles found a way to respond on multiple occasions.
JBU, which led by as many as 18 points in the first half, fended off a pair of surges by the Rams in the second half and held on for a 65-59 victory inside Bill George Arena.
"This time to see us answer was nice," said JBU head coach Jeff Soderquist.
Twice as nice actually.
The Golden Eagles (10-15, 5-9) led 36-18 with 2:30 left in the first half after a 3-pointer from Morgan Ankrom capped a 22-6 JBU run.
Texas Wesleyan (17-9, 8-6), which received votes in the latest NAIA Coaches Poll, pulled within 38-23 at halftime. The Rams got going themselves in the second half when they went on a 17-6 run and pulled within 44-40 of the Golden Eagles' lead midway through the second half.
JBU answered with a basket inside from Sofia Mendoza and Lauren Rogers followed with a steal and score to push the lead back to eight points.
After the Rams got within six again, JBU went on a 7-0 run to push its advantage back up to 13 points.
Eliana Fernandez hit a pair of free throws and Tristan Carrasquillo hit a 3-pointer. Carrasquillo then scored on an assist from Brooke Barker with 6:28 remaining for a 58-45 lead.
"It was good to get some scoring out of T.C. tonight," Soderquist said. "She helped us coming off the bench."
Down 13, the Rams weren't finished.
Over the course of the next five minutes, Texas Wesleyan outscored JBU 12-1 and pulled within 59-57 with a little more than a minute remaining in the game.
With 1:01 left, Carrasquillo sank two free throws to give JBU a 61-57 lead.
Texas Wesleyan cut it back to 61-59 when Katelynn Threats scored on a bank shot.
The two teams traded turnovers, and Barker was fouled and hit a pair of free throws with 26.9 seconds left to put JBU ahead 63-59.
Carrasquillo and Mendoza would each split a pair at the line to close out the game as the Golden Eagles held on for the win.
"It was a good win," Soderquist said. "We had that 10-point lead, had some opportunities, turned it over and missed some shots. We need to do a better job right there. But we pulled it off."
JBU held the Rams to 23 of 69 shooting from the field and 3 of 13 from behind the 3-point line.
"They just play such a tenaciously sticky defense," said Texas Wesleyan head coach Bill Franey. "Sometimes they just didn't give us any place to throw the ball."
About the only complaint Soderquist had with the Golden Eagles' defense was they gave up 13 offensive rebounds in the first half. In the second half JBU only gave up three offensive rebounds.
"Your defense is only as good as your rebounding," Soderquist said. "I thought we played very good defense."
Stacey Darnley led Texas Wesleyan with 20 points, while Threats had 14.
Mendoza continued her recent strong play with 15 points and nine rebounds off the bench. Since going scoreless with five rebounds in a 71-69 loss to No. 2 Oklahoma City on Jan. 29, the 6-foot-5 junior forward has averaged 17.4 points and 9.2 rebounds in the five games since.
"In the second half with their ball pressure, we weren't patient enough to get it in to Sofia," Soderquist said. "I called a timeout and I said, "Hey Sofia has touched it once inside and a bunch outside. You guys aren't patient enough to let the offense run to get her back inside and post her up."
Carrasquillo added 12 points off the bench, while Rogers finished with 10 points for JBU.
The Golden Eagles return to action at home on Thursday against No. 25 Wayland Baptist (15-9, 10-4). Tip-off is 6 p.m. at Bill George Arena.
"Last year, as good as we played all year, I felt we still played our best basketball at the end of the year," Soderquist said. "This group has proven it can play with anybody in the conference. We've just got to finish the deal and we did tonight. If we can just keep playing better and finish the deal in games, we'll be OK."
John Brown 65, Texas Wesleyan 59
Texas Wesleyan 23 36 -- 59
John Brown 38 27 -- 65
Texas Wesleyan (17-9, 8-6): Darnley 20, Threats 14, Parker 6, Nolisa 5, Sims 4, Boal 4, Easley 2, Swoopes 2, Handy 2.
John Brown (10-15, 5-9): Mendoza 15, Carrasquillo 12, Rogers 10, Fernandez 8, Barker 6, Deines 6, Ankrom 3, Knox 3, Brown 2.
Sports on 02/18/2015