POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. — A strong second quarter and steady play inside lifted College of the Ozarks to a 71–57 win over John Brown on Monday night.

After trailing by three at the end of the first quarter, the Lady Cats took control by outscoring John Brown 21–8 in the second period to build a 34–24 halftime lead. College of the Ozarks maintained the advantage the rest of the way, using balanced scoring and solid defense in front of a good, home crowd.

Ashlen Garrett led all scorers with 24 points on 10-of-18 shooting, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. She also added eight rebounds and two steals. Garrett’s jumper midway through the third quarter extended the lead to 46–32, and her 3-pointer late in the fourth helped put the game away.

Keara Mattingley added 17 points, eight rebounds, three blocks, and four steals, while going a perfect 7-for-7 from the free-throw line. As a team, the Bobcats shot 40.6% from the field and 82.4% at the line, forced 22 turnovers, and turned 11 steals into key scoring opportunities to secure the win.

John Brown grabbed early momentum, taking a 16–11 lead late in the first quarter on a jumper from Abbey Sanders. College of the Ozarks answered in the second quarter with strong defense and forced turnovers, using an Abby McBride 3-pointer to cap a run that put the Lady Cats ahead 28–20. From there, College of the Ozarks stayed in control and carried a 56–41 lead into the fourth quarter.

John Brown made several pushes in the final period. Sarah Snodgrass led the charge, and Sanders knocked down a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 59–51 with 6:47 remaining. Each time, however, College of the Ozarks responded with key stops and timely scoring. Ashlen Garrett delivered late baskets as the Lady Cats tightened their defense to close out the game.

Snodgrass finished with a double-double for John Brown, posting 20 points and a game-high 17 rebounds. Caelyn Ferguson added 14 points. John Brown shot 36.4% from the field and 24% from three-point range, while College of the Ozarks used balanced scoring, pressure defense, and a decisive second quarter to secure the 71–57 home win.