Shayla busts record 8 3s as Queens roll

Box Score "When this team wants to play, they're just really good," Wayland Baptist head coach Alesha Robertson-Ellis said after the 13^th-ranked Flying Queens won their final regular-season game in convincing fashion over the University of Science and Arts Oklahoma on Saturday in Hutcherson Center, 111-65.
 
Before Saturday's game, Wayland's three seniors – sisters Shayla and Shawna Monreal, and Jade Jones – were recognized. All three had excellent games, especially Shayla, who set a new program record by hitting eight 3-pointers as part of her career-high 34 points.
 
Shayla had tied the old record of seven 3-pointers, shared with four others, previously this season against Texas Wesleyan. She ripped 8-of-10 bombs Saturday (she was 11-of-13 overall from the field and 4-of-4 at the free-throw line) and now owns the record all by herself.
 
Meanwhile, Jones ended with 27 points and six rebounds while Shawna contributed 12 points, eight boards and a career-high eight assists, many to sister Shayla. Shawna increased her career total to 1,054 points, having become the 46^th member of the Flying Queens' 1,000-point club when she netted 17 against Mid-America Christian on Feb. 9.
 
"I'm proud of how our seniors came out and played (Saturday). It's exciting for them to have that kind of success in their senior game," Robertson-Ellis said.
 
The 111 points is the most the Flying Queens (23-4, 14-3 SAC) have scored all season, topping their total from a 110-67 win over SAGU in Waxahachie just three games earlier. It's the program's most points in more than three years, since a 119-68 victory over St. Gregory's (Okla.) on Jan. 30, 2014.
 
"I felt like they played with more energy, and that's what's got to happen," Robertson-Ellis said. "Also, it's just really nice when your shots are falling."
 
And WBU's shots were definitely falling. Thanks in large part to Shayla Monreal, the Flying Queens hit 60 percent from the field overall (39-of-65) and an incredible 64 percent (14-of-22) from 3-point range. They also made 76 percent of their free throws (19-of-25).
 
"The key was to iron out our differences and come together to play as team. They just have to play together," Robertson-Ellis said.
 
Wayland tied a season-high with 28 assists. Besides Shawna's eight, Morgan Bennett dished out seven helpers.
 
Also scoring in double figures was freshmen Kendrick Clark with 10 points.
 
After a lackluster effort in Thursday's 67-65 loss to Southwestern Christian that ended a 22-game home winning streak, Wayland came out of the gates hitting on all cylinders against USAO (11-15, 9-9). By the end of the first quarter, the Flying Queens were in command, 34-13. They were almost as dominant in the third period, outscoring the Drovers, 31-14, before finishing it off with a 28-17 fourth quarter.
 
The Flying Queens tied with No. 17 John Brown (22-7, 14-4) for second place in the conference behind No. 7 Oklahoma City (26-2, 17-1). Wayland winds up with the No. 2 seed for the conference tournament after figuring in tie-breakers and will take on No. 7 seed Southwestern Christian (15-13, 7-11) at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the tourney quarterfinals.
 
"It's good that we get to play in the Hutch on Tuesday. That gives us the advantage," Robertson-Ellis said.
 
Quarterfinals winners move on to the final site at Oklahoma City University for the semifinals Friday and championship at 1 p.m. Saturday. The tournament winner receives an automatic bid to NAIA nationals in Billings, Mont., although Wayland is expected to receive an at-large bid even if the Flying Queens don't take the crown.
 
"If we will be able to handle adversity," Robertson-Ellis said, "we will be able to make it pretty far."
  Tuesday, Feb. 28 (Times determined by home team. Seeds are in parenthesis. Highest seed hosts)
(8) Bacone College (10-16, 5-13) at (1) Oklahoma City University (25-2, 16-1)
(5) Texas Wesleyan University (18-11, 10-8) at (4) Mid-America Christian University (19-9, 10-7)
(6) University Science & Arts of Oklahoma (11-15, 9-9) at (3) John Brown University (21-7, 13-4)
(7) Southwestern Christian University (15-12, 7-10) at (2) Wayland Baptist University (23-5, 14-4)

Semifinals
Friday, March 3 at Oklahoma City University – Abe Lemons Arena. Times determined by SAC
USAO/JBU winner vs. WBU/SCU winner
MACU/TWU winner vs. OCU/BC winner

Championship
March 4 at Oklahoma City University – Abe Lemons Arena.
1 p.m. – Women's Championship