Flying Queens earn win over ENMU

Box Score Taking on NCAA Division II Eastern New Mexico University on Friday night in Hutcherson Center, the Wayland Baptist women's basketball team came back from an early deficit and then held on to win, 63-49.
 
The 22nd-ranked Flying Queens (3-0) and the Greyhounds (1-2) struggled shooting early in the game – WBU at 26 percent (4-of-15) and ENMU at 25 percent (4-of-16) – and ENMU clung to an 11-10 lead after the first quarter. 
 
In the second, the Queens went on a 15-8 run to jump ahead of the Greyhounds at the half, 25-19.
ENMU repeated a similar shooting second quarter, this time just 3-of-12 from the field. Meanwhile, the Queens reached 43 percent (6-of-14).
 
WBU coach Alesha Robertson-Ellis attributed the slow start to the Flying Queens being tense and not executing.
 
"We have to just relax and play," Robertson-Ellis said. "We didn't execute well on the offensive end, either. (ENMU's) pressure defense impressed me, and that's what threw us off our game.
 
"Once we got comfortable with the pressure, we relaxed and played a little bit better."
 
The improvement was visible after the half with freshman post Deborah Van Dijk going 6-of-7 from the field and scoring 13 points in the third quarter alone. She finished with a game-high 18 plus four rebounds
 
"I was really proud of Deborah," Robertson-Ellis said. "For a freshman to come in and play like that is special. She's not afraid to battle with anyone."
 
Still, the Greyhounds kept the game close, 44-39, going to the final period. ENMU got within one, 46-45, at the 8:20 mark but the Queens didn't blink. WBU went on an 18-4 run to close out the game and seal the win.
 
"At the end of the game, they realized that the small things mattered," Robertson-Ellis said of things like setting screens and boxing out for rebounds.
 
Senior Jade Jones, who notched 12 rebounds in the first half, finished with 16 boards and 12 points.
 
"(Jade) did an awesome job rebounding," Robertson-Ellis said. "She's very quick and athletic."
 
Sophomore Maci Merket was the only Queen to knock down a 3-pointer, going 4-of-6 from the behind the arc and finishing with 16 points.
 
"(Merket) had another great game," Robertson-Ellis said. "We have to have her in the game."
 
Both teams were plagued by turnovers. Wayland wound up with 25 while ENMU had 26. The Greyhounds shot just 30 percent (18-of-61) for the game, making only 22 percent (5-of-23) from 3-point range. The Flying Queens managed to hit 40 percent (23-of-57) of their shots from the floor, including 4-of-15 3s.
 
The Flying Queens next head down I-27 for an exhibition at 6 p.m. Monday against another NCAA D-II, No. 11 Lubbock Christian (0-2). The Lady Chaps won a national championship last season, going 35-0.

"We've got to execute better Monday," Robertson-Ellis said. "We'll be able to hang in there with them if we'll play our game."
 
The Flying Queens will spend Thanksgiving weekend in Pueblo, Colo., with tournament games against Colorado-Colorado Springs and Colorado State-Pueblo before opening Sooner Athletic Conference play on the road against Southwestern Christian and No. 19 Oklahoma City. Wayland's next home game is Dec. 10 against Sul Ross State.