OKLAHOMA CITY -- The fifth-seeded John Brown University women's basketball team rode a career-high 24 points from sophomore Ally Teague, including 18 in the second half, to keep its season alive and upset fourth-seeded Mid-America Christian (Okla.), 83-69, on Tuesday evening inside the Gaulke Activity Center in the Sooner Athletic tournament quarterfinals.
The victory allowed JBU to return home Friday for the semifinals against Science and Arts (Okla.)
Averaging just shy of three points per game, Teague's monster outing included 8-of-9 shooting from the field, four 3-pointers, and seven rebounds, all career-bests. Additionally, the Golden Eagles received some much-needed help from senior Jana Schammel, who hit a career-high six triples, and also contributed 24 points as the visitors shot just shy of 50 percent from the field and pieced together a game-clinching run after MACU opened the second half with a full-court press.
Enjoying a 40-29 lead at the break, the Golden Eagles saw the hosts rally on a 10-0 run to open the third quarter to pull within one, 40-39. A Baily Cameron triple broke the streak as the teams traded buckets, and finally, after another MACU triple to close the John Brown lead to 51-49, JBU recaptured its double-digit advantage.
A 9-0, started by back-to-back Teague treys, was followed by a pair of buckets from Kimmy Deines and a Schammel triple to balloon the lead back to 60-49.
Teague dominated the fourth quarter, going on a personal 10-0 run, hitting a pair of triples, a jumper and a pair from the line, pushing the lead to 16 and icing the contest for John Brown.
The staunch JBU defense held Mid-America Christian to just 37 percent from the field, and kept MACU leading scorer Alexis Shannon to 10 points. Jessica Fairley added 16 points while Chelseah Savage led the hosts with 18. Jennah Coffman registered 11 points and seven boards in the loss.
"We played really good defense tonight, especially in the first half," head coach Jeff Soderquist said. "We also had some other players step up tonight. Jana looked really good, then Ally came off the bench and had an awesome night. I knew MACU would make a run in the second half, and they did, but we handled it and responded well. Very proud of our effort tonight."
Deines scored a big 12 points while dishing out eight dimes. Cameron secured a quiet 12 points and 12 boards, earning her eighth double-double of the season.
Sports on 03/04/2018