Box Score Wayland Baptist extended its win streak to 12 games – its longest in 17 years – and also avenged its last loss when the No. 17 Flying Queens ran past John Brown University on Saturday afternoon in Hutcherson Center, 79-67.The win helped Wayland (16-4, 11-1 SAC) take over sole possession of first place in the Sooner Athletic Conference after No. 14 Oklahoma City (13-6, 10-2) was upset in Waxahachie by Southwestern Assemblies of God University, 65-52.
The Flying Queens and Golden Eagles (13-11, 6-6) battled back and forth early in the first half. While the Queens scored most of their points in the paint, John Brown was lethal from behind the arc, hitting 50 percent (6-of-12) in the first half and shooting 45 percent (11-of-23) for the game.
"They executed better than anyone we've played," Wayland coach
Alesha Robertson-Ellis said of JBU, which handed the Flying Queens their last loss, 63-58, on Dec. 3 in Arkansas. "You can't gamble against this team. They will expose your weakness."
Still, the Queens buckled down and held a 46-34 lead at the half.
"I think they gritted their teeth and said, 'We're going to get this game,' and we did," Robertson-Ellis said.
Although never breaking into huge runs, the Queens stayed out of reach most of the second half, although the Golden Eagles cut it to six, 66-60, with just under seven minutes left in the game. That's when seniors
Stephanie Afunugo and
Laura Castillo came through, with Afunugo connecting on a field goal and Castillo draining a 3-pointer to take the margin back out to 11.
"When they scored, we had an answer for them and it helped us," Robertson-Ellis said.
Afunugo finished with 22 points and Castillo 21 points and five rebounds.
"When Steph is having a good night you can't stop her, and Laura knows when to step up and shoot the ball. We rely on her for that. They are disciplined players and we know we can get a consistent number out of them," Robertson-Ellis said.
Also for the Queens, junior
Shawna Monreal finished with 14 points and six assists.
The Queens lived at the free-throw line going 28 for 33 while the Eagles on attempted nine total. Also, the Queens only turned the ball over 10 times. That is the second lowest total for the season.
Wayland's 12-game win streak is the programs' longest since winning 13 in a row during the 1998-99 season.
As for taking over first place in the conference, Robertson-Ellis said nothing is settled yet.
"I think we have to keep our heads out of the clouds," she said. "There is still a lot of season left. We have to keep trucking and play one game at a time."
Next for the Queens will be OCU at 6 p.m. Thursday in the Hutch. Wayland defeated the Stars when they met in Oklahoma City on Jan. 28, 82-67.
"They're ready to get us," Robertson-Ellis said. "When you're at the top, everyone is ready to play you. We can't be missing at any position. "
