Rogers' 16 Points Not Enough as Cavaliers Escape with 77-69 Win
SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. (February 2, 2013) - Sophomore guard Lauren Rogers turned in a team-high 16 points, her highest output since the season opener at Ecclesia (Ark.), but the Golden Eagles (9-13, 4-6 SAC) couldn't hold Leticia Silva in check as St. Gregory's (9-14, 2-7 SAC) captured a 77-69 win Saturday afternoon at Bill George Arena.
Cavalier senior guard Leticia Silva, who earlier this week moved into the top scoring spot in SGU history, knocked down a career-high 33 points, 21 of which came off distance shooting.
While each team knocked down 13 three-pointers, it took the Golden Eagles five more chances to equal St. Gregory's output. Leading JBU was Rogers' four treys while freshman forward Brooke Barker added two, as did junior forward Kortni Barenberg. Barenberg finished the game with 10 points while junior center Kami Garrison also added 10 in the loss.
The Cavaliers did a better job of securing the ball, only committing 11 turnovers while forcing 13 John Brown miscues. The host squad converted 15 points as a result of JBU errors. The Golden Eagles won the battle of the boards, nabbing 28 rebounds, lead by Garrison's seven, translating eight offensive caroms into 15 second chance points.
SGU raced out to a quick 13-3 lead, connecting on four of its first five chances. The Golden Eagles responded by piecing together a small 6-0 run, powered by a Rogers triple in conjunction with a Garrison bucket down low to cut the Cavalier lead to six, 21-16, with just over 11 minutes remaining in the half.
After the host squad's lead ballooned to nine points, 25-16, John Brown went on a 8-1 run over the next 2:57, as Tristan Carrasquillo's lone bucket of the game, a three-pointer, shaved the St. Gregory's lead to just two, 26-24. However, SGU would control the remainder of the half, nabbing 18 of the final 26 points to take a 44-32 lead into the intermission after a commanding game-high 14-point lead with just under 90 seconds left in the half.
The visitors from Shawnee, Okla., shot an impressive 15-of-26 (57.7 percent) in the first half. Silva's 20 points in the first 20 minutes led all scorers. The Golden Eagles shot well too, 44.0 percent (11-of-25), but couldn't answer the nine Cavalier three-pointers in the first stanza, finishing with five on 11 opportunities.
John Brown improved its shooting accuracy from behind the arc, sinking eight three-pointers in the second frame, but only managed three buckets inside the arc, matching its first-half total of 11 baskets from the field. The Cavaliers maintained a healthy margin the entirety of the second half until a quick five points, courtesy of a Barker triple and a pair of Sierra Shipley free throws, turned the SGU 10-point lead into a two possession game, 65-60.
St. Gregory's responded with a fast 6-0 run, effectively ending the Golden Eagle's comeback bid as JBU fell by a final of 77-69.
John Brown finished the game shooting at the 42.3 percent clip. That mark was overshadowed by an impressive efficiency from the visitors as SGU managed to convert 52.2 percent of its opportunities.
The Golden Eagles will return to action on Monday, Feb. 4, when they take on No. 16 Rogers State in Claremore, Okla., in a 6:00 p.m. tip-off.
