OKLAHOMA CITY – Wayland Baptist scored the first 10 points of the game and never looked back as the eighth-ranked Flying Queens defeated Science & Arts of Oklahoma in the Sooner Athletic Conference semifinals here Friday afternoon, 68-60.
Kambrey Blakey put in 21 points to pace second-seeded Wayland (27-5), which will face ninth-ranked, top-seeded Oklahoma City, an 82-55 winner over Southwestern Assemblies of God University, in the tournament championship at 1 p.m. Saturday. The Flying Queens swept the Stars in the regular season, winning at OCU on Jan. 10, 70-63, and on Feb. 16 in Plainview, 76-61.
It is the Flying Queens' third trip to the conference tournament final in the last four seasons, and they'll be looking for their third-ever title, having previously won in 1998 and 2016.
Against third-seeded USAO (21-11), a team with which Wayland split during the regular season, Blakey and
Maci Merket came out on fire as the two combined for four field goals, including a 3-pointer apiece, in the first 2½ minutes to stake the Flying Queens to a 10-0 lead over the team ranked the equivalent of 28
th in the NAIA.
"We threw the first punch, which is something we always talk about," Wayland coach
Alesha Ellis said. "We came out like we know how to today and had a lot of energy in the first quarter. That's what we have to do every game. I'm really proud of the first five who came out and did that."
WBU went on another 10-0 run – capped by a 3-pointer from
Deborah VanDijk – that stretched the Flying Queens' lead to 19, 31-12. Merket and
Morgan Bennett drilled back-to-back 3-pointers right before halftime to send Wayland to intermission up by 19, 41-22.
The Flying Queens kept the Drovers at arm's length the rest of the way, leading by 13 after the third quarter. The closest USAO got was the final eight-point margin.
"We could have played a little better in the second half, but we did what it took to win," Ellis said.
Wayland shot 43 percent from the field, including 26 percent (8-of-31) from 3-point range. The Flying Queens attempted just five free throws, hitting four.
USAO, led by the 21 points and 11 rebounds of SAC Player of the Year Vivian Holcomb (it was her 22
nd double-double of the season), failed to hit a 3-pointer in seven tries. It was the first time all season the Drovers failed to connect from long range and came a game after they matched their season-high of 11 in a 70-43 win over John Brown. The Drovers hit 16-of-24 foul shots.
"I feel like we executed our defensive game plan," Ellis said. "The girls did a nice job of sticking with the game plan."
Kaylee Edgemon led the Flying Queens with seven rebounds, while Blakey and Bennett got six each.
"Kambrey had a solid game," Ellis said, adding, "The girls on the bench came in and contributed really good minutes. That's what we have in order to win big games."
Wayland turned it over 11 times, four fewer than USAO.
