Second-half slip costs Queens vs. No. 17 OLLU

Box Score
Wayland Baptist saw a 12-point lead quickly disappear as 17^th-ranked Our Lady of the Lake University outscored the Flying Queens by 27 in the second half to take a 91-69 win on Saturday afternoon in Hutcherson Center.
 
"I thought we had a really good first half. We came out like we wanted," Wayland coach Alesha Robertson said. "We have to play a whole game like that."
 
With the game tied at 60-all midway through the second half, the undefeated Saints (4-0) put up 13 unanswered points to take over the game. Three different OLLU players nailed 3-point shots to get the game-changing run going.
 
"When they hit those three 3s right in a row it killed our momentum, and we didn't fight through it very well," Robertson said.
 
The Saints, who trailed 50-38 a little more than three minutes into the second half, outscored Wayland 31-10 in the final 10 minutes of the contest. Further, they outscored the Flying Queens 39-0 from 3-point range as the Saints hit 13-of-33 from long range compared to WBU's 0-of-12 struggle.
 
"It takes a lot of hours in the gym to be a good shooter," Robertson said.
 
Wayland (2-4) also struggled at times making shots under the basket. After hitting 44 percent in the first half, the Flying Queens went cold and made only 19 percent (5-of-27) in the second.
 
"When we get a shot in the paint we need to finish," Robertson said.
 
That's one of the "little things" the coach said the Flying Queens must begin doing better.
 
"I feel like if we do the little things we'll be OK, like blocking out and rebounding and hustling to the ball," she said. "If we had done the little things I think we could have won three of our last four losses."
 
Angeleigh Davis scored 23 points for Wayland (2-4) while Christie Mooney and Iesha Greer both posted double-doubles. Greer finished with 16 points and 18 rebounds – just two off the school record – while Mooney went for 16 points and 13 boards.
 
Wayland held a 58-39 rebounding edge but committed 29 turnovers compared to 15 for OLLU.
 
"The main thing we have to do is take care of the ball," Robertson said. "We have to get smarter, especially against those athletic teams."
 
All five Saints starters scored in double-figures, led by Courtney Bayliss, a junior from Australia, with 31 points on 12-of-25 shooting from the field, including 6-of-15 from downtown.
 
"She had a great game," Robertson said, adding that Wayland was prepared for Chelsea Solis and Nashae Owens. "We were really focused on those two and trying to get out there and guard them. But (Bayliss) really cost us."
 
Wayland will look to snap a four-game skid as the Flying Queens open Sooner Athletic Conference play at 6 p.m. Thursday against John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Ark. John Brown is 6-1 and received votes for the equivalent of a No. 31 ranking in the NAIA Preseason Top 25 poll.
 
"They're a very good team," Robertson said. "From my understanding they're athletic and they're quick."
 
She said a win on Thursday in the conference opener would do wonders for the Flying Queens.
 
"It would be really good for our confidence," she said.