Lady Bison get needed conference win

January 24, 2005

January 24, 2005

Oklahoma Baptist held John Brown University to just 44 points Monday night at the Noble Complex as OBU cruised to a 56-44 win. The Lady Bison did the majority of their damage on the defensive end with OBU forcing 20 turnovers. OBU's man-to-man defense rattled the John Brown offense.

"We really controlled this game with our defense tonight," said Head Coach John McCullough. "Offensively we weren't very efficient. We have to do a better job taking care of the basketball. When we have that many turnovers (24) and still come out with a win you know you're doing something right."

The Lady Bison were led by Tabetha Eaton who scored 15 points with seven of them coming from the free throw line (seven-for-seven).

"She's just a hard worker," said McCullough. "She's not a great outside shooter, but she knows how to get points. I really like guards that can drive because they find a way to get to the free throw line."

Shannon Plumb had her third straight game in double figures with 11 points.

"They gave Shannon the open shot from the top of the key all night and that's her shot," said McCullough.

The only other Bison is double figures was Kelly Welborn who scored 10.

No Golden Eagle was in double figures.

The Lady Bison jumped on John Brown early and often in the first half with OBU trailing only twice 2-3 and 11-12. A Shannon Plumb three-pointer put OBU up 14-12 and a pair of Trena Robbins free throws made the score 16-12. Layla Schwarz then pushed the Lady Bison lead out to six at 21-15 before the Golden Eagles brought it back within two at 21-19 with 4:22 in the half. Kelly Welborn opened up a 7-2 run to finish out the half with a lay up and a three and Rachel Heins closed the run out with a bucket in the paint. At the half OBU lead John Brown 28-21.

OBU took an early nine-point lead in the second half at 30-21, but that was the largest lead the Lady Bison held until late in the second half. While OBU never trailed in the second half John Brown was never down more than eight until the 1:52 mark in the second half.

OBU held the lead at eight points twice and seven four times, but the Lady Bison never could pull away from John Brown.

Not until Layla Schwarz scored five straight points, to help OBU take their biggest lead of 12 at 53-41, did OBU begin to pull away and that was with 1:33 left to play.

OBU moves to 3-4 in the Sooner Athletic Conference and 14-4 overall. John Brown fell to 2-4 in the SAC and 10-7 overall.

The Lady Bison host University of Arts and Science of Oklahoma Thursday at 6 p.m. in the Noble Complex.