Box Score SHAWNEE, Okla. — The Wayland Baptist Flying Queens captured their 16th straight victory Saturday afternoon in Sooner Athletic Conference action against St. Gregory's, 96-70.
With the win, the No. 13 Queens matched the program's longest win streak since the 1991-92season when Wayland advanced to the national championship game, losing to Arkansas Tech, 78-66. The last time the Queens won more than 16 straight was a 31-game win streak in 1986-87.
"I'm really proud of the winning streak," Coach
Alesha Robertson-Ellis said. "Our thoughts are getting to the national tournament. We just want to continue to get better every day, and getting to that tournament and doing something."
With a two-game lead over Oklahoma City University with two games left in the regular season, Wayland is one win away from clinching its first SAC regular-season championship.
The Flying Queens (20-4, 15-1 SAC) and the Lady Cavs (8-17, 5-11) went back and forth in the first quarter with 10 lead changes. WBU ended the quarter ahead 27-18, and it never got any closer for the St. Greg's.
By halftime the score was 46-30 after the Queens found their shooting touch from the field.
"It was a nice, steady game," Robertson-Ellis said. "We shot the ball a whole lot better."
The Queens shot 53 percent for the game and once again captured the rebounding edge (42-23), especially on the offensive end (14-3).
In the second half, WBU put on the cruise-control and with all but one player scoring in the game.
"We want our second group to be as good as our first," Robertson-Ellis said.
The coach received well-balanced scoring with six players in double figures, split between starters and the bench.
Shawna Monreal led the way with a team-high 16 points and seven assists. Not far behind was senior
Stephanie Afunugo with 15 points and six boards.
"Shawna came in and played really well," Robertson-Ellis said. "This was one of her best games."
Off the bench, senior
Brianna Bogard and junior
Jada Riley both broke into double figures. Riley scored 13 points, a season high, and Bogard produced big from behind the arc, making two of her three 3-point attempts and finishing with 11 points.
"Riley came in off the bench and gave us a lot of energy," Robertson-Ellis said. "They were the difference in the game. They held themselves to high expectations and connected on them."
Also in double figures were junior
Jade Jones with 11 points and six rebounds and freshman
Maci Merket with 10 points. Both junior
Shayla Monreal and sophomore
Nina Sato were just one point short of double figures, finishing with nine.
The Flying Queens will travel back home to play the first of their last two regular-season matches at 6 p.m. Thursday against Southwestern Assemblies of God (16-11, 9-7), a 68-61 double-overtime winner at home against Texas Wesleyan on Saturday. In their last matchup on Jan 23 the Queens routed the Lady Lions, 78-51.
"SAGU is one of our toughest challenges this year," Robertson-Ellis said. "We have to come back on Monday and prepare to finish the season out."
