Flying Queens return home for convincing win

Box Score

(NOTE: The Flying Queens wore special warm-up T-shirts to honor Larry Joe Donaldson, the brother of Flying Queens redshirt freshman Jolie Donaldson and grandson of former Flying Queens player and former WBU vice president of institutional advancement Betty Donaldson. On Jan. 1, 2018, just a few weeks after developing flu-like symptoms and eight days before what would have been his 16th birthday, Larry Joe died. Donations were accepted at halftime as part of a love fund to be given to the Donaldson family to help defray medical expenses.)
  Having suffered a couple of losses during a taxing week on the road, the fifth-ranked Wayland Baptist Flying Queens returned to Hutcherson Center on Thursday night and picked up a convincing Sooner Athletic Conference win over Bacone, 73-55.
 
"We got done," Flying Queens coach Alesha Ellis said after the win over the feisty Warriors. "Bacone is one of those games that could go either way. They're scrappy and athletic."
 
The Queens (22-5, 15-4 SAC) put themselves ahead early, finishing the first quarter ahead 21-9. They were able to build a 19-point, 36-17 lead by halftime despite the Lady Warriors (15-13, 7-12) causing the Queens some setbacks offensively, including hitting just 4-of-22 field goals (18 percent) during the period.
 
Wayland led by as many as 28, 66-38, before settling for the 18-point victory.
 
The game featured 57 turnovers, 29 by Bacone and 28 by Wayland.
 
"We can do a little bit better taking care of the ball, but that's what Bacone does. They make you turn it over," Ellis said.
 
Leading scorer for the Queens was Maci Merket, who hit 6-of-9 field goals, including a pair of 3-pointers, and 4-of-4 from the free-throw line and finished with 18 points. Morgan Bennett and Kendrick Clark also made notable contributions to the victory. Coming off the bench, Clark scored 12 points and pulled down six rebounds, while Bennett chipped in 11 points, eight boards and dished out six assists, right at her NAIA-leading average.
 
The Queens shot 33.3 percent, only slightly better than Bacone's 32.4 shooting percentage, but held a commanding 57-38 edge on the boards, including 22 offensive boards.
 
Wayland ended with 28 bench points, while Bacone gained 16 points from its subs. 
 
"Our bench came in and did a good job for us today, and that's always very helpful when they get out there and make things happen," Ellis said.
 
Samantha Jackson led Bacone with 21 points, but the Queens managed to keep the rest of the Lady Warriors in single digits. Bacone made just 2-of-16 3-pointers (13 percent).
 
"We executed our game plan," Ellis said. "It wasn't perfect, but I think we're back on track ready to go against John Brown on Saturday."
 
The Queens hope to gain another win at 1 p.m. Saturday against John Brown (18-10, 12-7) to finish up their regular season. Jada Riley, Gabby Gonzales and Nina Sato will be honored before the tip on Senior Day.
 
John Brown, then ranked No. 19, defeated Wayland when they teams met Jan. 2 in Siloam Springs, Ark., 72-64.
 
While Wayland is third in the league standings, John Brown is tied with Mid-America Christian for fourth. The Eagles will be looking to win to secure a top-four spot in order to host a SAC Tournament game.
 
Wayland will host a first-round round conference tourney game Tuesday, then, with a win, head to Siloam Springs, Ark., for the semifinals and finals.