ATCHISON, Kan. -- Freshman Baily Cameron notched a career-high scoring mark for a second straight contest, but a 19-2 third-quarter score doomed the John Brown University women's basketball team in its attempt to upend No. 15 Benedictine (Kan.) in the Raven's 73-66 win on Tuesday evening at Ralph Nolan Gymnasium.
The Golden Eagles (4-3) played the Ravens (7-1) point-for-point throughout the first half, and even enjoyed a 37-29 lead at the 4:02 mark of the second quarter after Cameron knocked down a triple, handing JBU its largest lead of the contest.
In the pivotal third quarter, however, the JBU offense stalled to the tune of a 1-of-7 effort from the floor. The Golden Eagles committed seven turnovers in the period, mounting 14 empty possessions. The Ravens used the quarter to turn a 41-40 halftime lead into a 59-42 advantage with 10 minutes to play.
"I thought we played really well tonight," said JBU head coach Jeff Soderquist. "But when you only score two points in the third quarter, that makes it hard. That was the ball game right there. I thought Benedictine executed well and we didn't. Otherwise, it was a great women's basketball game with two very good teams."
Benedictine's lead grew to as many as 20, 62-42, to open the fourth quarter. Finally, the JBU offense broke open to the tune of four-straight treys, courtesy of Cameron and senior Brooke Barker, who each drilled two apiece. Now down just 10 after the 12-0 rally with 6:48 remaining, sophomore Kimmy Deines hit her second long-range jumper of the afternoon to cut the deficit to eight, 69-61.
Barker then hit the line on consecutive possessions and converted 3 of 4, pulling JBU into a three-point margin, 69-66. Unfortunately, the Golden Eagle offense would finish there, missing all six of its final attempts from the field as the Ravens pulled away for the victory.
Cameron turned in another impressive performance, this time setting career highs in points (24), field goals made (9), three-pointers made (6) and blocks (3). Her 75 percent shooting mark from behind the line (6 of 8) tied the second-best shooting percentage in single-game program history. Barker finished 5 of 8 from the field and 5 of 6 from the line to add 17 points and five rebounds in the loss. No other Golden Eagle finished in double figures.
The visitors actually finished with a better shooting mark over the course of the game as JBU notched a 23 of 51 (45.1 percent) mark from the field and held the Ravens to a 23 of 60 (38.3 percent) clip from the floor. BC pulled down two more rebounds, 34-32, and John Brown committed five more errors, 19-14, in the loss.
Chayla Rutledge hit 8 of 10 from the line and led Benedictine in scoring with 19 points and six boards. Jordan Kramer knocked down five triples to score 17 while Kirsten Murphy notched 11 points and six rebounds in the victory.
JBU will return home against Jarvis Christian (Texas) at Bill George Arena at p.m. Monday before hosting Wayland Baptist (Texas) on Thursday in its Sooner Athletic Conference opener.
Sports on 11/29/2015