Box Score

SILOAM SPRINGS, AR: The Texas Wesleyan University women's basketball team (11-13, 6-9 SAC) narrowly missed an upset of #16 John Brown University (19-5, 11-4 SAC) at the Bill George Arena on Thursday.
 
John Brown flew out to a 6-0 lead to start the game, capped by a Kortni Barenburg three pointer. The Lady Rams got their bearings and battled back to bring the score to a 9-8 Golden Eagles advantage after a Kayla McCray lay-in. The Golden Eagles stretched the lead back out to a six-point, 18-12 margin that was part of a 7-2 run, ending in another Barenburg jumper behind the arc with five minutes left in the half.

Texas Wesleyan did not let that lead build though, as Onyesonam Nolisa nailed a jumper with 25 seconds to go and the Lady Rams made a stop on the other end to settle for a 24-20 JBU lead at the break.
 
The two teams shot an identical 33 percent from the field, as John Brown held the edge in rebounds, 20-14. Though the Lady Rams never led in the first half, the Wesleyan defense did enough to keep the sixteenth ranked Golden Eagles from pulling away.
 
The Lady Rams caught John Brown off guard to start the second half as ToiEasha Cooper pickpocketed the Golden Eagles on back-to-back possessions to cut into the lead. The Lady Rams ended the 5-0 rally with a Caitlin Boal fast break layup to tie the game, 27-27. John Brown recovered and gradually pulled out to a 44-34 lead on a two point shot by Morgan Ankrom. Sierra Shipley found the bottom of the net from downtown to make it 12-point 49-37 advantage with 8:31 remaining the game. Texas Wesleyan was not done though, playing great basketball on their way to a 7-0 run capped by a McCray jumper to cut the lead to 54-50 with two minutes to go in the contest. The Golden Eagles buckled down and were able to hold off the upset minded Lady Rams from there, 61-53.
 
JBU outshot Wesleyan from the field, 43 percent to 37 percent. The Lady Rams only took five shots from beyond the arc, as the Golden Eagles went 5-11 for 33 percent. John Brown shot 72 percent from the free throw line, while the Lady Rams shot 67 percent. Points in the paint went 35-29 in favor of Texas Wesleyan. Second chance points were 16-6 for Wesleyan, and points off turnovers had the Rams with an 18-13 edge.
 
Nolisa led the Lady Rams with 14 points, while adding five boards. Boal had 11 points and six rebounds. Amy Moody also tallied 11 points, with four steals in the contest.
 
The Lady Rams will celebrate homecoming with a game against Saint Gregory's University on Saturday, February 15. The game also marks Think Pink Day.  Fans are encouraged to wear pink in support of the fight against breast cancer.  Tip-off is set for 3:00 pm at the Sid Richardson Center.