Box Score SAN ANTONIO – After giving No. 24 Our Lady of the Lake University all it wanted in the first half, Wayland Baptist couldn't keep up with the Saints in the second half, and the Flying Queens fell, 77-53, in the final game of the Halo Classic.
“The second half we didn't execute, offensively or defensively, the way we did the first half,” Wayland coach
Tory Bryant said.
The Queens (4-3) trailed just 30-28 at halftime and they had it tied at 32 early in the second half when the unbeaten Saints (4-0) came to life. Capitalizing on numerous steals which they converted into lay-ups, OLLU outscored Wayland 12-1 to take a 44-33 lead, and the Queens never recovered. Wayland, which rallied to defeat St. Thomas-Houston, 78-75, on Friday, never got closer than nine points the rest of the way.
“We missed some shots in the second half and had some turnovers that led to some transition buckets for them that took us out of the game,” Bryant said.
The game was still within reach with WBU trailing, 59-48, when OLLU recorded eight answered points as part of an 18-5 game-ending run that gave the Saints their largest lead, 24 points, at the final buzzer.
“We did a good job handling pressure and controlling the tempo the first half but, not the second half,” Bryant said.
Rochelle Norris produced a double-double for the Queens with her game-high 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Angeleigh Davis and
Christie Mooney added 10 points each.
OLLU, which on Friday defeated St. Gregory's University, 87-79, got 24 points from Nashae Owens and 17 points and 10 boards from Nellie Flores, who hit 5-of-7 three-pointers.
“We didn't defend her like we drew it up,” Bryant said of his team's play against Flores.
Wayland, which had won three straight, shot 35 percent (21-of-60) from the field, including 2-of-12 from 3-point range, compared to OLLU's 42 percent (30-of-72) and 38 percent (6-of-16) from long range. The Queens hit 9-of-12 free throws and the Saints 11-of-14.
“We just didn't shoot it as well as we did last night, and OLLU had quite a bit to do with that,” Bryant said.
The Saints held a 42-36 rebound advantage and had 15 turnovers, six fewer than Wayland.
The Queens return home to host Arlington Baptist College at 6 p.m. Monday in what will be their first doubleheader with the Pioneers, who meet ABC at 8.
