Women drop first home game

JBU was defeated Saturday by USAO.

John Brown’s women basketball team has gone through a lot in the last month just to get to finally play its first home game of the season.

When the Golden Eagles finally got their chance Saturday against Science and Arts, nothing came easy.

JBU struggled offensively and dropped a 74-45 loss to the Drovers inside Bill George Arena.

It was JBU’s second game of the season after an 88-71 loss at MidAmerica Christian on Saturday.

John Brown coach Jeff Soderquist said his team looked tired on Saturday, citing JBU’s lack of practice time because of covid-19 protocols.

“We’ve practiced seven days in the last nine weeks,” Soderquist said. “This group, we’re not in shape. We gave a lot Thursday (at Mid-America Christian). I’m trying to correct things (Friday) in practice. We probably had too much practice but I just think, when you look at our big three, Tarrah (Stephens), Marta (Matamala) and Taylor (Fergen), who had big games on Thursday, they looked tired tonight. We just looked tired.”

The team was scheduled to open its season Jan. 2, but that contest and six others were canceled or postponed because of covid-19 protocols. Soderquist said until Jan. 24, the team had not had enough players available to play 5-on-5 in practice.

“Between injuries and people getting covid, we’ve not had 10 people,” Soderquist said.

With a team featuring several new faces, the practice and early games would have been important for the team, he said.

“We’ve got a lot of talent, but this young group needed a month of practice, three scrimmages so we can get used to the speed of the game,” he said. “We’re going to keep getting better. We can’t control these things. What we can control, we’re just going to try to keep getting better.”

On Saturday against Science and Arts, JBU hit only 16 of 62 (25.8 percent) shots from the field and 2 of 18 (11 percent) from behind the 3-point line — a rare occurrence on its home floor.

The Golden Eagles trailed 12-9 after the first quarter and the Drovers (9-3, 6-1) opened up 36-18 lead at halftime. Science and Arts led 56-40 going into the fourth period.

Milagros Carrera led the Drovers with 17 points, while Zaria Dorsey had 15 and Kaytlen Johnson 10.

Photo courtesy of JBU Sports Information John Brown senior Taylor Fergen, top, and Science and Arts’ Kaytlen Johnson dive after a loose ball during Saturday’s game at Bill George Arena. Science and Arts defeated JBU 74-45.

Photo courtesy of JBU Sports Information John Brown junior Maddie Altman (left) attempts to get by Science and Arts’ Lucia Guerrero during last Saturday’s game at Bill George Arena. The Drovers defeated the Golden Eagles 74-45.