#6 Flying Queens get leg up on Oklahoma City with another win over Stars

After a close first half and a few early lead changes, the sixth-ranked Wayland Baptist Flying Queens amped up their game and got out in front of No. 10 Oklahoma City University to lock in a 76-61 victory in a Sooner Athletic Conference showdown Saturday afternoon in Hutcherson Center.
 
"I was really proud of the girls today. I felt like it was something they were ready for, which doesn't shock me because they always show up ready to compete in these big games," Wayland coach Alesha Ellis said.
 
The win leaves Wayland (24-4) and OCU (25-3) tied atop the conference standings with 18-2 records. Because the Flying Queens also beat the Stars on the road earlier this season, 70-63 after coming back from a 16-point deficit, Wayland is in the driver's seat for the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament should the Queens and Stars end up as co-conference champions.
 
"It gives us a shot at the conference championship," Ellis said. "We still have work to do, but it gives us a shot."
 
The Stars got an early jump on the Queens, but Wayland kept it close. The lead changed hands twice in the first 10 minutes, and two free throws by Deborah VanDijk put the Queens ahead by one at the end of the first, 16-15, despite hitting just 4-of-21 field goals (19 percent).
 
OCU came within one point five times during the second quarter, but an 8-3 run in the last three minutes secured a six-point lead for the Queens by the halftime buzzer. Wayland's shooting still was lacking, especially from long range where the Queens were just 2-of-18 (11 percent).
 
"I know we didn't shoot the ball very well, but I felt like our defense was really good today, which was what had to happen to win," Ellis said. "Winning loose balls and making hustle plays make a big difference in games like this."
The Queens added three to their lead during the third and went into the final quarter holding a nine-point lead, 55-46. The Stars made their best effort to claw back, pulling to within three early in the fourth when Mallory Lockhart converted a four-point play.
 
The Queens stretched the lead back out starting with a 3-pointer by Kambrey Blakey. Kaylee Edgemon followed with one of her own shortly afterwards, and Wayland produced a 15-4 run to regain control and cruise to the final 15-point victory.
 
The Queens were led by Edgemon with 22 points and nine rebounds, plus had three others in double digits. Maci Merket, the team's lone senior who was recognized before the game, finished with 15 points and nine boards, while Deborah VanDijk and Blakey added 13 points each and combined for 13 rebounds.
 
"I'm really glad we got the win for Maci on her senior day. That was big for her," Ellis said.
 
The Queens were able to overcome their below-par shooting (26-of-75, 35 percent; 6-of-27 3-pointers) not only with impressive free-throw shooting (18-of-19, 95 percent) and aggressive defense, but by limiting their turnovers to only eight. The Stars, who shot 34 percent from the field but hit 26-of-30 free throws (87 percent), gave it away 15 times. The Queens also out-rebounded OCU, 49-32.
 
Against the taller Stars, Ellis said her inside players Kelea Pool and VanDijk were pivotal.
 
"Kelea came in and played great defense, and Deborah played a great game today, too. She played hard out there. Our guards really locked in on the defensive end, and that's what we needed."
 
The Queens have two conference games remaining, both on the road. They play Texas Wesleyan (10-9, 12-15 SAC) at 6 p.m. Thursday in Fort Worth before heading to Waxahachie to face off against Southwestern Assemblies of God (19-9, 13-7) at 2 p.m. Saturday. OCU winds up the regular-season at home against USAO and on the road against Mid-America Christian, two teams that defeated Wayland.