Brooke Barker made her only basket count Saturday night.
Barker hit a three-pointer with 11 seconds remaining to give John Brown University a 65-63 come-from-behind victory over Loyola (La.) and a berth in the NAIA Women’s National Tournament semifinals in Frankfort, Ky.
The Golden Eagles (28-7), trailing 60-42 with 7:51 left in the second half, will play Sooner Athletic Conference champion Oklahoma City at 5 p.m. Monday. Oklahoma City (25-4) defeated JBU twice in the regular season, but the Golden Eagles won 66-62 on March 7 in the conference tournament semifinals that ended a 13-year winless drought against the Stars.
JBU had never won a game in the national tournament after losing in the first round in 2004, 2006 and 2007. The Golden Eagles, who have set a school record for victories this season, defeated Lyon 70-53 in the tournament opener Thursday before defeating No. 1 Vanguard (Calif.) 62-61 in Friday’s quarterfinals and then Loyola.
“I knew we had it in us to get this far, but we just hadn’t showed it in the way that we have played until late in the season and here in the tournament,” JBU Coach Jeff Soderquist said. “It’s great.We are very pleased to go this far.”
Kortni Barenberg’s basket with 1:28 left pulled JBU to within 63-61 with 1:28 remaining. After a Loyola turnover, Barenberg hit the first of two free throws to cut the deficit to a point with 45 seconds left.
After another Loyola turnover, Kami Garrison found Barker for the winning three-pointer.
Janeicia Neely drove into the lane and missed a jumper over two JBU defenders at the buzzer.
The Golden Eagles made 11 of 27 (41 percent) three-pointers to offset a 34 percent night overall from the field. Senior Sierra Shipley led the Golden Eagles with 18 points behind 4-of-9 shooting from three point range. Barenberg had 12 for JBU.
Neely led Loyola with 18 points, while Caroline Gonzalez came off the bench to score 14 points, which included hitting 4 of 5 three-pointers. Jasmine Brewer had 11 for the Wolf Pack.
JBU had eight turnovers, with seven coming in the first half. Loyola opened with an 8-0 lead by forcing three of those turnovers. The Golden Eagles got their first points on a Lauren Rogers three-pointer with 15:59 left.
JBU’s largest lead of two came twice, once on Barker’s winning basket and on Rogers’ three-pointer with 11:01 left in the first half that made it 14-12.
NAIA glance All times Central
WOMEN At Frankfort (Ky.) Convention Center
QUARTERFINALS SATURDAY’S GAMES Freed-Hardeman 66, Bethel (Tenn.) 48 Oklahoma City 79, Campbellsville 76 Wiley 75, Westminster (Utah) 58 John Brown 65, Loyola (La.) 63
SEMIFINALS MONDAY’S GAMES
John Brown (28-7) vs. Oklahoma City (25-4), 5 p.m.
Wiley (30-4) vs. Freed-Hardeman (35-1), 7 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP TUESDAY’S GAME
Semifinals winners, 5:30 p.m.
MEN At Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, Mo.
QUARTERFINALS SATURDAY’S GAMES Emmanuel 94, Cal St. San Marcos 89, OT St. Gregory’s 84, Freed-Hardeman 82 Vanguard 93, Georgetown (Ky.) 85 MidAmerica Nazarene 86, St. Catharine (Ky.) 73
SEMIFINALS MONDAY’S GAMES Vanguard (30-6) vs. St. Gregory’s (24-9) 6 p.m.
Emmanuel (32-3) vs. MidAmerica Nazarene (26-10), 8 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP TUESDAY’S GAME Semifinals winners, 7 p.m.
Sports, Pages 28 on 03/23/2014