Cameron scores 27 in John Brown win
The Golden Eagles play at Bacone on Thursday.
Sophomore Baily Cameron poured in 15 of a game-high 27 points in the fourth quarter, and the No. 20 John Brown University women’s basketball team used 28 assists on 34 field goals to earn an 83-67 win and a key season-sweep over Mid-America Christian (Okla.) on Saturday afternoon at Bill George Arena.
With the victory, the Golden Eagles (18-7, 10-4 Sooner Athletic Conference) move within one game of clinching home court advantage in the 2017 SAC Tournament quarterfinals and two wins away from its fifth-ever 20win season in program history.
The Evangels, who were without leading scorer Sarai Rodriguez, fell to 16-9 overall and 7-7 in league play, in jeopardy of having to play away from the Gaulke Activity Center in the upcoming quarterfinals on Tuesday, Feb. 28.
Cameron’s 27 points on an efficient 12 of 15 shooting from the floor led an effort that saw each Golden Eagle score in the victory. Cameron added five assists and four boards. Junior Jana Schammel again came off the bench and provided doubledigit scoring for John Brown with 11 points, while junior Kimmy Deines added nine points and a season-best seven assists. Freshman Jordan Martin posted a near-double-double, adding eight points and 10 boards, helping the hosts to a 44-37 edge on
the glass.
Junior Luize Skrastina posted seven points, seven rebounds and four assists, while senior Kodee Powell boasted six assists in the win. The hosts assisted on 82.4 percent of its made field goals.
A 12-point Golden Eagle lead at the end of the three remained in double-digits for the majority of the final frame largely in part to Cameron’s 15-point outburst in the final 10 minutes of play. Highlighted by a pair of successful and-one’s, Cameron scored 15 of JBU’s 22 points in the quarter as the Golden Eagles shot 60 percent from the floor in the fourth quarter.
Five turnovers and a chaotic MACU press cost the hosts early as the Evangels rode Mykayla Flores to seven points and a 17-16 lead after 10 minutes of play. The lead didn’t last long. After an early triple by Nevada Denton, John Brown rallied on a 12-4 run over the next 2:18 that featured triples from freshman Sara Williams and junior Courtney Fine and was cemented with back-to-back buckets down low from Cameron.
Powell’s drive into the lane and scoop gave JBU a three-point cushion, 38-35, with 2:21 to go, but MACU hit back by ending the half on a 6-2 run to climb within one at the half.
The third quarter proved to be the most pivotal as the Golden Eagles piled up 21 points and held the visitors to a 4-of-20 shooting effort (20 percent) from the field. Seven different players scored for John Brown as the lead grew to as many as 12 when Powell’s triple fell with four seconds left in the contest.
“As individuals have ups and downs, we’re having different people step up so that the team is staying at a consistent level,” said head coach Jeff Soderquist. “I was worried about these last five games, because they are all teams that we have beaten, and they’re good enough to beat us. We can’t get complacent.
“We have to come every night ready to play. Tonight was great because even when our 3-pointers weren’t falling, which is our strength, we found a way to pull out the win.”
Three of five starters finished in double-digit scoring for the Evangels, led by Flores’ 19 points and eight assists. Denton added 18 points and D’Shala Powell netted 13. Brittany Thompson completed the doubledouble with 10 points and 12 boards.
JBU returns to action on Thursday at Bacone (Okla.) at 6 p.m. in Muskogee, Okla. The Golden Eagles took care of the Warriors 79-52 on Jan. 26.
JBU returns home on Saturday to face Science and Arts (Okla.) for parents weekend and senior night.