A lot has happened in the two years since Alesha Robertson took the reins of the Wayland Baptist Flying Queens, including the coach getting a new last name: Robertson-Ellis.
Another change surrounding the Flying Queens was the program qualifying for the NAIA Division I Women's National Championships in back-to-back seasons. That hadn't happened in a decade.
One thing this season that didn't change, unfortunately, is the Flying Queens being eliminated in the first round of nationals. Playing in Independence, Mo., 20
th-ranked Wayland fell to No. 13 MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) in a game that saw the Flying Queens leading by seven points midway through the second half. In the end, WBU had a chance to possibly tie it but wound up on the short end of a 72-69 score.
The Flying Queens ended with a 19-12 record, one victory shy of last season's 20-win total, which would have given the program consecutive 20-win campaigns for the first time this century.
"Overall, I'm very happy with the girls," Robertson-Ellis said in assessing the recently-completed season. "In most games we were behind in, they never gave up, and that says a lot. That's why we made it to nationals, because they had the determination to get things done. That's what it takes.
"You can't do much with a team unless they want to work hard, and this group found a way to get things done, even though it wasn't easy."
The reason it sometimes wasn't easy for the Flying Queens is they were undersized and, after the starting five, extremely young and inexperienced.
"Our tallest girl is Nina (Sato), a freshman, at 6-2," Robertson-Ellis pointed out.
In addition, all five of the team's substitutes were either freshmen or first-year Wayland players, or both.
"There were times when we could have done better this year. We lost some games that we shouldn't have, so we have to do better there," Robertson-Ellis said. "Making the national tournament is a good thing, but you want to win ballgames when you get there."
The Flying Queens haven't done that in 12 years now, having lost in the first round at nationals their last four appearances.
"If we get another shot at it next year, we have to win," Robertson-Ellis said. "You don't want to develop that reputation of getting to that tournament and losing. We want to be the best ones there. We want to be the team that everybody (fears), and not the team at the selection show that everybody is cheering that they're going to get to play."
That said, the coach said she's proud of everything the Flying Queens accomplished during the 2014-15 season, including putting forth a performance at nationals of which they can be proud.
"I feel like we competed this year, whereas I didn't feel like we competed very well last year," Robertson-Ellis said. "We just have to finish it.
"I don't know if I'll be satisfied until we win it all, but with what we had we did a really good job this year. Our starting five was really small, and we only had two seniors on the team. After our starting five we got really young.
"I feel like we did about the best we could this year," she added. "Coming within two of the national champion (WBU lost to Oklahoma City University, 80-78) says something."
The coach praised seniors
LaTericka Anderson and
Iesha Greer, the team's top two rebounders (close to 9.0 rpg) who also averaged around 12 points apiece to rank third and fourth on the squad in scoring. Greer is a two-time All-SAC Third-Team honoree who had a team-best nine double-doubles this season while Anderson had eight.
"We're going to miss those guys. They led the team really well this year," Robertson-Ellis said. "They're going to be successful whatever they do because they know how to work hard. We wish them the best."
Anderson has proven to be a battler, not only in surviving a cancer scare but also as a 5-foot-9 post player.
"We asked LT to do some things we wish we didn't have to," Robertson-Ellis said. "She went up against some big, big people."
That's part of what the Flying Queens are addressing in recruiting.
"We're waiting on some answers from some post players," Robertson-Ellis said.
Already, three players have signed with the program: 6-0 junior Kristina Bugarski of Serbia by way of Eastern Florida State, 5-7 guard Brianna Bogard of Georgetown by way of the University of Nebraska Omaha, and 5-10 freshman shooting guard Maci Merket of Canadian.
A big part of the Flying Queens' success next season will revolve around seniors-to-be
Laura Castillo and
Stephanie Afunugo, the team's top two scorers this season. Castillo was named NAIA Third-Team All-American while Afunugo made the honorable mention team. Also due back are junior guard
Shawna Monreal along with her twin sister Shayla, who missed this season with an injury. Others are senior
Honesty Sullivan, sophomore
Gabby Gonzales, and freshmen
Nina Sato,
Jada Riley and
Regan Hestand.
"The girls worked really hard. That was the thing I was most satisfied with," Robertson-Ellis said. "As long as they're working hard and playing like they know how, I'll be happy."
The second-year coach said she continues to learn a lot.
"It's a learning experience every day for me. I feel like I've learned a lot both on the court and off," she said. "It's been a whole lot of fun, and I appreciate the support that I have. Everyone is patient with me because I make my share of mistakes. Even the players have to go through that with me, and I thank them for putting up with me during this part of my coaching career."
While Robertson-Ellis would prefer to win every game the Flying Queens play, she knows it's a process. She also knows that even more good things await the Flying Queens in the future.
"If we continue to work hard – the girls and me – then we'll continue to get better."
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