Box Score LUBBOCK – Steve Gomez and his Lubbock Christian University Lady Chaparrals showed Wayland Baptist exactly why they're the No. 1 team in the country.
After the Flying Queens played with LCU in the game's first four minutes, even owning a three-point lead, the hot-shooting Lady Chaps proceeded to go on a 20-2 run to take control of the Sooner Athletic Conference opener on Tuesday night at the Rip Griffin Center. Wayland was never able to answer that monstrous run, and LCU wound up with a 96-66 victory.
“Early on when they made that run we didn't do a good job of responding,” Wayland coach
Tory Bryant said. “We had three or four empty possessions in a row and they were able to extend it, and you can't allow a team like LCU to do that.”
LCU (12-0), a Final Four participant last season, shot a sizzling 62 percent (38-of-61) from the field for the game, including a blistering 71 percent (22-of-31) in the second half. Conversely, Wayland was only 34 percent (21-of-62) from the floor, and just 26 percent (8-of-31) in the first half.
“Offensively at certain spots our shot selection was poor,” Bryant said.
Leading LCU's offensive charge was Kelsey Canavan, a 6-foot-1 senior center from El Paso who missed only twice in a dozen field goals and finished with a game-high 24 points. Shallowater sophomore Haley Burton added 19, junior Emily Atkins 15 and senior Courtney Wilson 12. Nicole Hampton, a sophomore from Canyon, was credited with a game-best eight assists along with seven points and five turnovers.
Wayland also had four players in double figures, led by freshman
Laura Castillo who hit half of the Queens' eight 3-pointers and finished with a season-high 18 points.
Angeleigh Davis added 13 points,
LaTericka Anderson 12 and
CeCe Williams 10.
LCU dominated the boards, especially in the first half when the Lady Chaps doubled Wayland, 26-13. The Queens ended on the short end of a 41-30 board battle. The turnover battle was close with LCU giving it away 10 times compared to Wayland's 11.
It was easily the most points Wayland has surrendered all season. Before Tuesday, the most came in a 77-53 loss to No. 24 Our Lady of the Lake University.
“If you don't counter when they're scoring you've got to get stops, and we didn't do that enough,” Bryant said.
The Queens now take a three-game break from SAC play, next traveling to Abilene on Saturday to take on McMurry at 2 p.m. WBU then hosts McMurry on Dec. 17 then plays at Texas A&M-Tarleton State on Dec. 29 before resuming conference action at St. Gregory's on Jan. 3.
“We can't dwell on this,” Bryant said of the loss to LCU. “We have to get ready for McMurry. We'll have our hands full with them.”
