SILOAM SPRINGS, AK – The Texas Wesleyan Women's basketball team fell in a tightly contested matchup against John Brown University, 78-77, at Bill George Arena.

TXWES' comeback effort fell short as the Golden Eagles sealed the victory with clutch free throws in the closing seconds.

The game featured five lead changes and one tie, underscoring the intensity throughout the game. John Brown (5-4, 3-2 SAC) jumped out to a 23-18 lead in the first quarter, buoyed by sharp three-point shooting from Abbey Sanders, who finished with a game-high 21 points on a perfect 7-of-9 from beyond the arc.

Texas Wesleyan (7-2, 3-2 SAC) battled back in the second quarter, led by Kameryn Phillips, who scored 22 points on 9-of-13 shooting. Despite Phillips' inside presence and timely buckets from Savanna Smith, who added nine points with three triples, the Rams trailed 42-37 at halftime.

The third quarter saw Texas Wesleyan mount a strong comeback. Key defensive stops and second-chance opportunities helped the Rams cut the deficit. Sophia Hurtado, who contributed 13 points and seven rebounds, delivered a crucial jumper late in the quarter to give Texas Wesleyan a brief lead.

The final quarter was a seesaw battle. Taryn Wills, who added 14 points and six rebounds for the Rams, kept the offense alive with strong drives to the basket. However, John Brown's resilience shone through as Sanders and Caelyn Ferguson (16 points) made pivotal plays. A late three-pointer by JBU's Carley Sexton (seven points) and Sanders' clutch free throws ultimately made the difference.

The Rams outrebounded the Golden Eagles 34-30 and dominated points in the paint 48-22. However, JBU's three-point efficiency (52%) proved decisive.

Texas Wesleyan will look to bounce back on the road against College of the Ozarks on Saturday before returning to the Sid next Thursday against home to face conference rival Wayland Baptist on Saturday.