No. 5 Queens hit record 18 3s in another romp

The Wayland Baptist Flying Queens reigned in a new program record Saturday afternoon on their home court, hitting a whopping 18 3-point shots that aided the fifth-ranked Queens to another impressive Sooner Athletic Conference victory, 108-63 over Southwestern Assemblies of God University.
 
In securing their 31^st straight win inside Hutcherson Center, the Flying Queens (19-2, 11-1 SAC) opened the game against the Lions (10-9, 5-7) with five 3-pointers to take a strong 11-point lead, 15-4, less than five minutes in. Wayland ended the first period with six 3s.
 
The Lions – with just seven available players after suffering four season-ending injuries – went into the second quarter trailing by 16, 27-11, but didn't stop fighting. They kept the scoring relatively tight in the second period, although by halftime the Queens' lead had grown to 50-27, which they achieved on 17-of-40 (43 percent) field goal shooting, including 11-of-22 (50 percent) from behind the arc.
 
Heading into the second half with a comfortable lead allowed coach Alesha Ellis to rest her starters and send some of her younger players into the game. The Queens' bench, proven to keep up pace and put up numbers, poured in a collective 63 points against the Lions.
 
Wayland outscored SAGU 30-21 in the third quarter and 28-15 in the fourth on 21-of-39 (54 percent) shooting from the field and 7-of-15 (47 percent) from the three. The Queens had 16 3s heading into the fourth, and got the record when Kambrey Blakey nailed the 18^th bomb with 1½ minutes to play.
 
The previous program record for 3-point shots made in a game for the Queens was 17 last season in a 90-49 victory against John Brown University on Jan. 21. Those 17 came on 43 attempts, while on Saturday the Queens drained 18 on just 37 tries (49 percent).
 
Eight players contributed at least one 3-pointer, with sophomore Payton Brown hitting a game-high four on five tries. Freshmen Blakey Gerber and Ashlyn Shelley chipped in three each.
 
Each player on the Queens' roster chipped in points, led by Kaylee Edgemon with 23 (on 10-of-14 shooting) to go with eight rebounds. Behind her with 15 was Brown. Morgan Bennett followed closely with 11 while Blakey chipped in 10. Just missing double-digit scoring was Shelly, who finished with nine. Senior Kelea Pool finished with a career-high five assists, while Cailyn Breckel pulled down a team-best 10 rebounds, followed by Jenna Cooper with nine. Wayland outrebounded the Lions, 65-36.
 
Having done it only once previously this season, it was the third straight game for Wayland to surpass the century mark.
 
The Queens, who defeated SAGU in Waxahachie on Jan. 2, 74-55, wound up shooting 38-of-79 (48 percent), 18-of-37 (49 percent) from the three-point line. The Lions were held to 22-of-77 (29 percent) shooting, and went 6-of-27 (22 percent) from behind the arc. SAGU had 13 turnovers; the Queens gave it away 17 times.
 
This victory closes out a successful five-game home stand for the Flying Queens. They'll hit the road to Oklahoma next to take on fourth-place University of Science and Arts (14-7, 8-4) in Chickasha at 6 p.m. Thursday, then third-place Mid-America Christian (15-6, 8-4) in Oklahoma City at 2 p.m. Saturday. At the Hutch in mid-January, Wayland defeated USAO, 98-64, and MACU, 93-71.