JBU bounces back with rout of St. Gregory’s
From JBU Sports
Nicholas Robinson, Director of Sports Information
SHAWNEE, Okla. — The John Brown University women’s basketball team opened with a 60 percent shooting effort and 32 points in the first quarter and built a game-high 44-point second half lead to run away with a 97-55 win over St. Gregory’s (Okla.) on Saturday (Dec. 3) afternoon inside the Sumner Field House.
Sophomore Baily Cameron poured in a game-high 20 points on 9-of-12 shooting and the Golden Eagles (7-4, 1-1 Sooner Athletic) shot 38-of-66 from the field to earn its first conference win of the season. Sophomore Preslea Reece rebounded from Thursday’s outing with 19 points and nine rebounds, marking a season-best point production.
Featuring four players in double-digit scoring, senior Kodie Powell and junior Kimmy Deines each added 14 points apiece. The guards distributed the ball well as Powell passed out a season-high eight dimes while Deines posted six helpers, also a season-best.
“I thought we came out and played really good defense in the first quarter,” said head coach Jeff Soderquist. “When we guard like that, I think we have a chance of being a really good team.”
The Cavaliers (2-7, 0-2) took its only lead of the game at 4-0, which was quickly countered by a 13-0 JBU run over the next 2:50. The hosts hit just 38.5 percent of its shots in the first quarter, while the Golden Eagles poured 32 points en route to netting 20 points or more in each of the four quarters.
Although the Cavaliers held a 39-30 rebounding advantage, John Brown dominated the paint to the tune of 38-22 and turned 26 SGU turnovers into 27 points. Despite committing 14 miscues of its own, the visitors held the Cavs to just nine points as a result.
The Golden Eagles again relied on its nation-leading three-point shooting and hit 13-of-28 from behind the arc (46.4 percent), led by four from Powell and a perfect 3-of-3 effort from junior Rosa Orpo. Deines hit a pair while four others hit at least one from downtown.
Shanques Garrett led all Cavaliers with 18 points, hitting a perfect eight chances at the charity stripe. Kylee Tatum added 12 points on a 3-of-17 mark from the floor in the losing effort.
The Golden Eagles return to action on Monday (Dec. 5) in non-conference play when JBU hosts new NAIA members Crowley’s Ridge (Ark.) in a 7 p.m. showdown inside Bill George Arena.