SILOAM SPRINGS -- It was deja vu Thursday for the John Brown women's basketball team against No. 2 Oklahoma City.
John Brown senior forward Laura Brown's 3-point attempt at the buzzer hit off the rim, and the defending national champion Stars slipped past the Golden Eagles for a 71-69 win inside Bill George Arena.
"I really thought we showed some grit at the end when we really needed to," said Oklahoma City coach Latricia Trammell. "I don't think we played defense very well. I don't think we adjusted to what John Brown was doing on offense, but we did at the end. I'm very proud of the extra effort, and you've got to give it to John Brown for working as hard as they did."
It was the first matchup between the two teams this season after playing one another last March in the 2014 NAIA National Tournament semifinals, a game which Oklahoma City won 67-65 in Frankfort, Ky.
On Thursday, JBU trailed by as many as 14 in the first half and 13 in the second half before rallying to take a four-point lead with 3 minutes, 15 seconds left in the game on a one-handed 3-pointer from Eliana Fernandez.
The Golden Eagles (7-13, 2-7) led 69-66 after Lauren Rogers split a pair of free throws, but the Stars (14-1, 9-0 Sooner Athletic Conference) cut it to 69-68 on a basket inside by Rateska Brown.
Kim Deines was charged with an offensive foul on JBU's next possession, and Oklahoma City's Marisha Wallace was fouled on the other end.
Wallace hit one free throw to tie the game, but she missed the second and Ouleymatou Coulibaly grabbed the offensive rebound for the Stars. Oklahoma City then worked the ball around to Yvonte Neal who scored off the glass for what would be the game-winning basket.
JBU burned around 20 seconds off the clock before the Golden Eagles got an open shot from Laura Brown in front of the JBU bench, however the shot didn't fall.
Rateska Brown led Oklahoma City with 22 points, while Coulibaly had 17 and Neal 16 for the Stars.
Rogers led JBU with 22 points, while Fernandez had 17 before fouling out late in the game, Brooke Barker 12 and Morgan Ankrom with 11.
The Golden Eagles had 22 turnovers to Oklahoma City's 18. Perhaps the biggest stat at the end was John Brown going 21 of 33 (63 percent) from the free-throw line.
"We had some opportunities," said JBU head coach Jeff Soderquist. "We missed some free throws there at the end of the first half. If we just shoot 70 percent from the line we win the game."
Men
Oklahoma City 85, John Brown 71
Gary Inglett and Tharone Chilton each scored 21 points as the Stars pulled away from the Golden Eagles in the men's game.
Oklahoma City led 64-60 after John Brown's D.J. Feitl scored inside, but the Stars then outscored JBU 21-11 the rest of the way, including going 10 of 10 from the free-throw line.
R.J. McGee and Dorion Gigger both chipped in 11 points for the Stars (9-6, 5-4). Feitl led JBU with 21 points, while Max Hopfgartner had 20 points and Zach English 12 points.
JBU hosts St. Gregory's on Saturday. The women's game is at 3 p.m. followed by the men's game. JBU will also be honoring its 2005 National Championship team.
Graham Thomas can be reached by email at gthomas@nwadg. com or on Twitter @NWAGraham.
Sports on 01/30/2015