Box Score Laura Castillo nailed five 3-pointers and scored 19 points, and
Iesha Greer recorded a double-double as Wayland Baptist picked up a 71-60 Sooner Athletic Conference win over Southwestern Assemblies of God on Saturday afternoon at Hutcherson Center.
"I was pleased with the outcome," WBU coach
Alesha Robertson-Ellis said. "As long as we're winning…"
Wayland (7-6, 3-1 SAC) scored the first 10 points of the game – featuring two 3-pointers by Castillo – and never trailed against the Lady Lions (9-6, 1-3).
"I think we scored on the first five or six possessions. It's always good when you can start out like that," Robertson-Ellis said. "I felt like our girls were relaxed and executed on the offensive end. It helps when you're scoring and those shots are going in.
"The first five minutes of each half are super important. You want to set the tone and take it to them instead of them taking it to us."
The Flying Queens, ranked the equivalent of 35
th, rattled off 11 straight points to go up by as many as 23 points – 32-9 – before going into intermission holding a 40-20 lead. Wayland's cushion remained in the teens most of the second half, until the Lady Lions cut it to eight, 67-59, with 1:18 to go.
"That team never gives up," Robertson-Ellis said. "I felt like as they were getting close we did a good job of staying in control. We didn't freak out."
SAGU had a chance to trim it further after a turnover by Wayland, but missed a layup. Flying Queen
Honesty Sullivan then hit two free throws with 34 seconds left to seal it. Castillo wrapped up the scoring with two more foul shots with five seconds left.
"We had our second crew in there quite a bit, trying to get them some experience because that's how they're going to get better," Robertson-Ellis said. "Even when the game got tight, I felt it was important to leave them in there so they can learn how to deal with those circumstances."
Every Flying Queen recorded at least 14 minutes.
"We did a good job of finding a way to win," the coach said.
Greer ended with 14 points and 12 rebounds, her fourth double-double of the season and second in as many games.
"Iesha did a great job rebounding," Robertson-Ellis said.
Gabby Gonzales came off the bench for nine points, all on 3-pointers. Castillo and Gonzales combined for all eight of Wayland's 3s.
Wayland next plays at Mid-America Christian (9-4, 2-2), an 80-66 loser to defending national champion Oklahoma City on Saturday, at 6 p.m. Thursday before returning to Plainview for its next three SAC games.
"MACU is one of the ones that will give us one of our best tests," Robertson-Ellis said. "They're capable of beating us. We have to make sure we play at every position and do what we've been doing. If we play like we know how to we should be able to win that one."
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