JBU Tops Ecclesia

GOLDEN EAGLES KNOCK DOWN 17 3-POINT SHOTS IN ROUT

STAFF PHOTO MICHAEL WOODS 
Eliana Fernandez, John Brown guard, tries to get past Ecclesia defender Tonya Villines as she brings the ball up the court during Tuesday’s game at Bill George Arena in Siloam Springs.
STAFF PHOTO MICHAEL WOODS Eliana Fernandez, John Brown guard, tries to get past Ecclesia defender Tonya Villines as she brings the ball up the court during Tuesday’s game at Bill George Arena in Siloam Springs.

— Ecclesia College wanted to slow the pace and utilize a 1-3-1 zone defense to take away easy shots inside the lane against a deeper John Brown team Tuesday night.

However, the Lady Royals left the Golden Eagles open from the outside and they took full advantage.

John Brown drained a school record 17 3-pointers en route to an easy 74-38 season-opening victory in women’s college basketball at Bill George Arena.

John Brown coach Jeff Soderquist said his team came out a bit impatient, but the Golden Eagles (1-0) got a spark from junior Lauren Rogers off the bench in the fi rst half.

“She’s the one that got us going,” Soderquist said. “She’s always been a good 3-point shooter. She really gave us a spark off the bench.”

“We played a little bit toward their style, but it was a good opener. We’ll learn from that. Our exhibition games we haven’t seen much zone, so it’s good to work on some things.”

Rogers, a 5-4 guard from Mannford, Okla., scored 11 of her game-high 14 points and hit 5-of-6 field goals, including 3-of-4 from 3-point range. She also dished out five assists, all in the first half, and did not record a turnover.

The Golden Eagles took control in the first half, hitting 10 of 22 (45 percent) from 3-point range, and led 35-14. They finished 17 of 42 (41 percent) from 3-point range for the game and eight different JBU players hit at lesson one 3-pointer.

Three other Golden Eagles reached double figures as junior Elliana Fernandez added 13, while forwards Brooke Barker and Kortni Barneberg chipped in 10 each. Kam Garrison, a 6-1 senior who played high school ball at Shiloh Christian, helped JBU to a 50-29 advantage on the board with a game-high 11 rebounds.

Ecclesia coach Dean Skinner acknowledged his team, which had just seven players dressed out, struggled to match up, but he also said they did some good things.

“In the 1-3-1 zone, it does a good job of forcing them to move the ball for 22 or 23 seconds, it often throws the team’s rhythm off and it did for 10 or 15 minutes,” Skinner said. “Eventually they started hitting some. They’ve got a great team.”

Moniqua Davis, a 5-8 freshman, was Ecclesia’s only player in double fi gures with 14.

John Brown hosts Crowley’s Ridge College at noon on Saturday.

Ecclesia 14 24 — 38

John Brown 35 39 — 74

ECCLESIA COLLEGE (0-4): Davis 14, Nelson 8, Thomas 7, Cheeks 5, Green 2, Villines 2.

JOHN BROWN (1-0): Rogers 14, Fernandez 13, Barenberg 10, Barker 10, Shipley 9, Carrasquillo 6, Glouse 5, Garrison 3, Williams 2, Warren 1, Lee 1.

MEN

JOHN BROWN 97,

OZARK CHRISTIAN 70

The Golden Eagles shot a red-hot 67 percent from the floor to roll to the easy win.

Kofi Josephs poured in a game-high 27 points to lead five John Brown players in double figure. Max Hopfgartner added 16, while Zach English chipped in 11. Nate Anderson and Gilbert Gyamfi scored 10 each for the Golden Eagles (3-0).

John Brown shot 60 percent (21-of-35) from the floor en route to a 49-28 halftime lead, but the Golden Eagles were even better in the second half, making 18 of 23 shots (78 percent).

JBU hosts Central Baptist College at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Ozark Christian 28 42 — 70

John Brown 49 48 — 97

OZARK CHRISTIAN (0-2): Wingert 19, Hill 12, Allmosclecher 9, Woodring 9, Gualberto 8, Vaden 6, Pettit 5, Jones 2.

JOHN BROWN (3-0): Josephs 27, Hopfgartner 16, English 11, Anderson 10, Gyamfi 10, Smith 8, Johnson 7, Freet 3, Ammons 3, Phillips 2.

STAFF PHOTO MICHAEL WOODS

Eliana Fernandez, John Brown guard, tries to get past Ecclesia defender Tonya Villines as she brings the ball up the court during Tuesday’s game at Bill George Arena in Siloam Springs.

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