On the heels of one of its most successful seasons in recent years, the Wayland Baptist women's basketball team is making strides to becoming a perennial power within the Sooner Athletic Conference and the NAIA.
Last season, the Flying Queens – on the backs of NAIA All-Americans
Stephanie Afunugo and
Laura Castillo – captured their first-ever SAC regular-season championship plus the conference tournament crown and rode a 21-game win streak into the first round of the NAIA National Championship before falling to Pikeville, (Ky.), 70-65. They wound up with a 25-5 record, the most wins for the program in almost two decades, and ranked 17th in the NAIA.
After losing four seniors – Afunugo,
Brianna Bogard, Castillo and
Krystal Forthan – off that team, fourth-year head coach
Alesha Robertson-Ellis recruited solely freshmen, all of whom she said will play vital roles in the success of the Flying Queens for 2016-17.
"Of course we're going to miss Laura, Stephanie, Krystal and Bri," Robertson-Ellis said. "I think that we brought in a good core of freshmen that are really smart and developed. That's what they bring to the table.
"They have to play this year. In the past, we've had some upperclassmen that could carry us through the season, but those (freshmen) are going to have to fill heavy roles this season. I think they are hungry and they want that role."
Of those freshmen, 5-foot-7 guard
Morgan Bennett will be in the starting lineup.
"She's a great point guard and very smart," Robertson-Ellis said. "She fills the position and she wants that spot. She's an amazing player."
Adding more size to their lineup will be 5-foot-11
Kendrick Clark, a guard from Lubbockwho will make the Flying Queens more versatile on offense and better defensively on the perimeter.
"We call her 'Go-Go Gadget' because of the presence she gives us on the perimeter with her long arms and athleticism," Robertson-Ellis said of Clark. "People have a hard time getting the ball around her."
Robertson-Ellis also added more muscle in the paint in 6-3
Kelea Pool of Seminole and 6-0 Deborah Van Dijk of Nazareth. Robertson-Ellis believes they will be a nice compliment to junior returner
Nina Sato.
"She (Van Dijk) makes it count. That's what we expect out of her," the coach said. "Pool will also add to our presence in the post. They have some developing to do, but they can still help us."
Finally, 5-11 guard
Savannah Cognasi of Lubbock will provide a boost to the backcourt off the bench.
"Savannah is very versatile and is able to play the two, three or four," Robertson-Ellis said. "Right now I think she can take anyone off the dribble at the four position."
Of course the freshmen will have plenty of veteran leadership to follow as the Flying Queens, who are ranked No. 22 to start the season, return
Gabby Gonzales,
Jade Jones (8.7 ppg & team-leading 7.8 reb),
Maci Merket (6.2 ppg), Shawna (10.5 ppg & 3.6 reb) and
Shayla Monreal (9.4 ppg),
Jada Riley and
Nina Sato (6.6 ppg, 6.7 reb and 1.4 blocks a game) all of whom Robertson-Ellis has seen become great leaders.
"We have a pretty good core coming back. We are expecting a lot out of them with leadership. They've really stepped up and been good leaders."
Robertson-Ellis is especially excited to see the continuing development of Sato.
"I'm very proud of her," she said. "She's hungry to get better and that's continued through the last three years. She's going to have to be our post leader and she's ready to take that role."
Robertson-Ellis has two goals in mind for the season: repeating as SAC champions and getting out of the first-round of the national tournament, which the Flying Queens have been unable to do the last three seasons.
"I feel like we can compete for that," she said of earning another conference title. "This team works together better than any team I've had. They're very young but they read each other very well. It'll be interesting."
The Flying Queens' first test will be 6 p.m. Tuesday against University of the Southwest (N.M.)
"They're really quick and athletic. We're going to have to be quick and play some defense. It's going to be a good win if we can get that one. Defense is the key. We have to make sure we get some stops."
