Flying Queens open league play with victory

With four wins already under their proverbial belt, the unbeaten sixth-ranked Wayland Baptist Flying Queens opened Sooner Athletic Conference play Thursday night on their home court with a 71-63 victory over the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma.
 
The Flying Queens (5-0) had won their previous games by impressive point margins, 18 being the closest. But the Drovers (3-3), who are ranked the equivalent of 28^th in the NAIA, showed up ready to play and, after being up by as many as six, had Wayland down, 19-17, after the first quarter.
 
The Flying Queens had to step up their game, and they did.
 
Wayland came out strong in the second quarter and tied it at 19 when Morgan Bennett, who led the Flying Queens with 20 points, took advantage of a USAO turnover and converted a layup. Wayland kept the momentum until the halftime buzzer when the Queens led the Drovers by eight, 38-30.
 
USAO – which swept Wayland last season on its way to a program-record 29 victories – didn't go away, though, and continued to apply pressure in the second half. The Drovers got within three, 40-37, and were within five when Wayland ended the period on a 5-0 run, capped by a long 3-pointer at the buzzer by Bennett.
 
The Flying Queens were able to keep the Drovers at arm's length and led it 70-57 with just under three minutes to play. USAO hit a 3-pointer then another bucket after a Wayland turnover to cut it to six, 71-65, with 23 seconds left, but the Flying Queens were able to dribble out the clock when the Drovers opted not to foul.
 
Bennett went 4-of-8 from behind the 3-point line and led Wayland with 20 points along five assists. Kaylee Edgemon came off the bench and closely followed with 19 points and five boards. Also in double digits was Deborah VanDijk, who contributed 15 points and pulled down five rebounds.
 
Vivian Holcomb was USAO's leading scorer with 19 points and 15 rebounds. Jaye Cage added 14 points and Kaytlen Johnson 11.
 
Wayland shot 25-of-60 (42%) in field goals, and 9-of-24 (38%) from the three. The Queens had 31 bench points. The Drovers shot 23-of-55 (42%) from the field and 6-of-18 (33%) from the three-point line. USAO suffered 17 turnovers while the Queens had 13 total.
 
The Queens will be back in the Hutch to continue conference play at 2 p.m. Saturday against Mid-America Christian (6-0, 1-0), which is ranked the equivalent of 27^th in the NAIA. The Evangels defeated Oklahoma-Panhandle State on Thursday, 70-60.