Box Score Laura Castillo scored 16 points to lead five players in double figures, and Stephanie Afunugo had a double-double as Wayland Baptist overcame a sluggish start by routing St. Gregory's University in the second half to win in Sooner Athletic Conference play Thursday night in Hutcherson Center, 82-64.
"We got off to a slow start, but I felt like the girls responded to adversity well," Wayland coach Alesha Robertson-Ellis said. "We had key players step up and get the job done.
"When you can find a way to win it's always a good thing, no matter how it comes."
Trailing by as many as 10 late in the first half, Wayland (7-4, 2-1 SAC) finally got on its game by scoring 11 straight points to bridge the third and fourth quarters. Shayla Monreal ended the third by nailing a 3-pointer to give Wayland a 55-51 lead heading in the final frame, then the Flying Queens notched the next eight points, including two buckets by Castillo and a putback by Monreal.
"Our shots weren't going in, and when that happens you have to find other ways to get the job done," Robertson-Ellis said. "The second half we played better defense and had more energy.
"We gave up a lot of transition shots in the first half. We just didn't play very well. We didn't have a lot of pressure. The second half we came out and played a lot better."
Wayland, playing for the first time in 19 days, went on to outscore the Cavaliers (4-8, 1-2) 27-13 in the fourth and led by as many as 20 points.
"We kind of got away from running the ball, and I feel like we're better in transition than we are in a half-court offense. We have to get better at that," Robertson-Ellis said.
The game ended a six-game road swing for Wayland and was its first outing since a convincing 91-71 win over Angelo State on Dec. 19.
"You always fear (having a slow start) coming back from a big break," Robertson-Ellis said. "We had a great week in practice and I felt like the girls were prepared. They knew what they had to do. Eventually they started doing those things and came out on the right end."
Castillo matched her season-high with 16 points. Shawna Monreal added 12 while Afunugo and Jade Jones got 11 each and Krystal Forthan 10. Afunugo pulled down a dozen rebounds – her second double-double of the season – and also had four steals, three assists and three blocks.
"Steph had a tough time shooting but still came up with a double-double," Robertson-Ellis said.
Wayland dominated the boards, 49-36, with 28 of the Flying Queens' rebounds coming on offense. In addition to Afunugo's 12, Nina Sato finished with eight caroms and Jones seven.
"Jade had a great game," the coach said.
Shawna Monreal posted a team-high seven assists.
Kelsie Howgard hit five 3-pointers and led St. Greg's with 17 points. Ashley Sparks got 14 and Denisha Lundy 13.
The Cavaliers made 7-of-12 3-pointers (58 percent) in the first half but only 1-of-6 (17 percent) in the second.
The Flying Queens outscored SGU 24-to-8 at the free throw line, getting 30 attempts to the Cavaliers' 13.
Wayland, ranked the equivalent of 28th in the NAIA, next hits the road to face a Mid-America Christian team (5-4, 2-0) that's riding high after a 98-90 double-overtime win at home over No. 19 John Brown on Thursday. The Queens fell to JBU earlier this season, 63-58. MACU's other SAC win came over Texas Wesleyan, 81-80.
"The last time we went (to MACU) we lost to them," Robertson-Ellis said of last season's 84-66 setback in Oklahoma City that preceded an 85-67 revenge win in Plainview to end the regular-season. "It's just a tough atmosphere to play and they're a tough team. They're one of the most athletic teams we'll play in the conference. They like to run the floor and shoot.
"We have to come out a lot better than we did tonight in order to win Saturday."
Tip-off at MACU is 1 p.m.
