Box Score WAXAHACHIE – Two days after playing a tough game and five days before another toughie, Wayland Baptist coach
Alesha Robertson-Ellis wanted her bench players to rise to the occasion on Saturday afternoon when the Flying Queens took on Southwestern Assemblies of God University.
They did.
Gabby Gonzales hit five of Wayland Baptist's 11 3-pointers and was one of eight Flying Queens with at least eight points as WBU blitzed SAGU in Sooner Athletic Conference play, 84-60.
"I told (the substitutes), 'You guys are going to have to pull us through this game," Robertson-Ellis said. "Some of our starters didn't come out on Thursday (in a 73-69 win over No. 25 Texas Wesleyan), and we have a big game coming up (against No. 2 Oklahoma City), so I knew it was important to rest our first group as much as we could.
"Our second group got in there and played well. They executed and played well today."
In their final tune-up before hosting the defending national champions on Thursday night, the Flying Queens (14-8, 9-3 SAC) drilled seven 3-pointers in the first half when they sprinted to a 43-22 lead. Gonzales made back-to-back bombs to start an 11-0 run and take Wayland's lead to 31-13. She made another not long after that, followed by one by
Honesty Sullivan.
"We did a good job of playing up to our level and doing things like we know how to do," Robertson-Ellis said. "The last two games we've executed very well."
It was never close in the second half when Wayland's lead grew to as much as 31 points.
The game wasn't near as close as when the Flying Queens prevailed, 71-60, back on Jan. 10, and Robertson-Ellis said the difference was Wayland's defense.
"The first time we played them we only won by 11. I thought we played a better defensive game than the first time. We picked up our defense today."
Wayland's 11 3-pointers (on 20 attempts for 55 percent) were only one off the team record of a dozen, managed twice previously, most recently three seasons ago. With her five treys on eight tries, Gonzales was two away from matching the individual record for 3s.
LaTericka Anderson, with 12 points and 10 rebounds, tallied her second straight and fifth double-double of the season. Sullivan and
Shawna Monreal added 11 points each while
Nina Sato got 10,
Laura Castillo nine and
Stephanie Afunugo and
Iesha Greer eight apiece.
Jada Riley didn't score but dished out a team-high eight assists.
Rated the equivalent of 27
th in the NAIA, the Flying Queens hit 30-of-59 field goals (51 percent) and made 13-of-17 free throws (77 percent) while holding SAGU (11-13, 2-10) to 36 percent (21-of-58) overall from the field and 33 percent (4-of-12) from long range. The Lions shot free throws well, hitting 14-of-17 (82 percent).
Wayland outrebounded SAGU, 41-30. Both teams had 21 turnovers.
After four straight SAC road games, the Flying Queens return home to take on No. 2 OCU (17-1, 12-0) at 6 p.m. Thursday. The Stars won the first time the teams met in Oklahoma City way back on Dec. 6, 86-74.
"That's a big one," Robertson-Ellis said. "OCU has a weapon in every position, so not one of us can rest on offense or defense."
The Wayland coach said OCU, which defeated Southwestern Christian on Saturday, 100-70, played without senior guard Yvonte Neal when they played previously. Neal averages close to 15 points a game.
"She will give them another shooter on the perimeter," Robertson-Ellis said.
She said the Flying Queens are excited about the game.
"It will be a challenge, but I always look forward to games like this because it helps us improve. They're really good and I enjoy watching them.
"We're going to have to get in there and play it just like we have been and go in with no other expectation but to win that sucker."
