Queens rally from 14 down with 25-3 game-ending run

Box Score
With a long trip to California ahead of them and a pair of top-12 teams awaiting their arrival, the Wayland Baptist Flying Queens didn't want to head west with a five-game losing streak weighing them down.
 
Thanks to an impressive late-game rally on Friday night in Hutcherson Center, they won't have to.
 
Wayland outscored Eastern New Mexico 25-3 in the final six minutes of the game to rally from a 14-point deficit and post a much-needed victory, 92-83.
 
"That (win) made all of us feel better," Flying Queens coach Alesha Robertson said. "After four losses, that helped us a bunch."
 
Wayland (3-4), after taking an early seven-point lead, fell behind by as many as 11 in the first half before rallying a bit to trail at intermission, 47-42.
 
The Zias (2-6), who were unconscious from 3-point range most of the game and finished one 3-pointer shy of matching a school record with 14 bombs, built their lead back up to as many as 14 points, 72-58, with 10 minutes left.
 
Robertson called ENMU, which was riding a two-game win streak, "the second-best team we've played all season.
 
"They shot the ball really well," she said.
 
ENMU was still up by 13, 80-67, with just under six minutes remaining when the Flying Queens started their incredible game-ending run.
 
"We didn't give up," Robertson said.
 
Most of the Queens' rally came with Laura Castillo and subs Shawna Monreal, Shayla Monreal, Aubrey Pedigo and Sydney Hearn on the floor.
 
"The Monreals are really good shooters, so we look for them to shoot the ball, along with Laura," Robertson said. "That makes us pretty strong in the guard position, and Sydney and Aubrey really played well underneath. They all can play like that (all of the time), they just have to believe it."
 
The first of Wayland's final 25 points came on a layup by Pedigo, then a 3-pointer by Castillo got the Queens to within shouting distance. Shawna Monreal notched the next three points, including a fast-break bucket on a feed by Hearn, to cut Wayland's deficit to 80-75.
 
ENMU then hit its only points of the final six minutes on a 3-pointer by Tori Tucker, who finished with six treys, with 3:24 left, but Castillo answered with the last of her four bombs just 30 seconds later. After a steal by Shayla Monreal, Hearn scored on a fast-break layup following a feed by Shawna Monreal.
 
Another steal followed by a traditional 3-point play, all by Shayla Monreal, tied the score at 83 with 1:51 showing. Then, with an assist from her twin sister, Shayla Monreal nailed a 3-pointer with 1:07 left to give Wayland its first lead since the 12:15 mark of the first half.
 
ENMU continued missing shots while Wayland connected on its free throws to widen the gap. Pedigo and Castillo each hit foul shots before the Monreals combined to nail 4-of-4 charity shots in the final 10 seconds.
 
Robertson came away impressed with the play of her final on-court combination, saying the WBU starters do a good job of starting out before the subs come in to keep up the pace.
 
"We got a lot of energy off the bench tonight," the coach said. "Just to have people come in and continue to push the ball when (the starters) get tired…
 
"It's pretty tough coming off the bench having to get your team back in the game, and they did that."
 
Four Flying Queens scored in double-figures, led by Angeleigh Davis with 20 and Castillo with 19. Christie Mooney added 12 and Iesha Greer 11. Greer also had 12 rebounds as she posted her fourth double-double of the young season. Shawna Monreal ended with nine points and Shayla Monreal eight.
 
Like ENMU did much of the game in hitting 14-of-25 3-pointers, Wayland enjoyed its own long-range shooting success down the stretch. After hitting just 2-of-9 from three-point range in the first half, the Flying Queens nailed 6-of-10 bombs in the second half. Overall, WBU shot 49 percent (32-of-66) from the field and 65 percent (20-of-31) from the free-throw line where the Flying Queens outscored the Zias, 20-7.
 
ENMU was led by Tucker with 22 points, Jordyn Cooper with 19, Nelsha Peterson with 14 and Jasmine Johnson with 10.
 
Wayland improved to 4-0 all-time against ENMU.
 
The Flying Queens needed Friday's win to gain some confidence prior to playing five of their next six games against teams that are either ranked or received votes in the NAIA Top 25 poll. The first two of those games come early next week in California against No. 12 The Master's on Monday and against No. 8 Westmont on Tuesday.
 
"Our road games aren't very easy, I've noticed," Robertson said.
 
After having their Sooner Athletic Conference openers postponed by inclement weather last week, Wayland instead will begin conference play on Jan. 2 at No. 2 Oklahoma City. After a road game against Southwestern Christian, the Flying Queens return home Jan. 9 to face No. 9 Oklahoma Baptist and (RV) Mid-America Christian.
 
That's a tough stretch, but Friday night's win should give the Flying Queens a shot of energy.
 
"It definitely helps, for sure," Robertson said.