Flying Queens earn share of conference crown with NAIA-best 24th straight win

The Wayland Baptist Flying Queens concluded their regular season at home Saturday afternoon with a lopsided 97-53 victory over Southwestern Christian University as Hutcherson Center cheered on the Queens' seniors in their last home games before the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament.
 
At the conclusion of the win that clinched a share of the conference title for Wayland -- just the second in program history -- seniors Deborah VanDijk, Kelea Pool, Kambrey Blakey and Morgan Bennett were introduced as their families accompanied them onto the court to receive flowers, framed jerseys and applause from appreciative fans.
 
The fifth-ranked Queens (28-2, 19-1 SAC) made sure those festivities were joyous by taking care of business in what was their 24^th straight win, the longest active streak in the NAIA this season and the longest for Wayland since the 1986-87 team won its first 31 games prior to falling in the NAIA Elite 8.
 
In typical Queens' fashion, the lead swung in favor of Wayland in a hurry as they opened the game with a 13-4 run in the first four minutes.
 
Coming off Thursday's 65-50 victory over top-ranked Oklahoma City University in which the Stars suffered their first setback, the Queens put up 12 3s in the first quarter and sank half of them to outscore the Eagles over the first 10 minutes, 26-14.
 
SCU (19-9, 11-9) opened the second quarter with a fast break that Tresha Yager converted to a successful and-one to make the score 26-17, but the Queens never let them get any closer. Wayland finished the first half holding a comfortable 25-point lead, 55-30.
 
The Queens shot 51 percent from the field in the first half (19-of-37) and 50 percent (10-of-20) from the 3.
 
SCU struggled offensively out of halftime, scoring only eight points in the third quarter compared to the Queens' 24. The fourth quarter's scoring was much closer as the Queens bested the Eagles by only three points, 18-15, but with such a large lead the victory was already secured as coach Alesha Ellis sent some of her younger players into the game.
 
Payton Brown led the Queens, who wound up hitting 14-of-33 3s (42 percent), with 18 points, three off her season-best. Behind her were Kaylee Edgemon with 15, Blakey with 12, Cailyn Breckel with 11 and Bennett who chipped in 10 points to go with six rebounds and five assists. Ashlyn Shelley and Pool finished with eight points each, while Pool also grabbed five boards and blocked two shots.
 
Jenna Cooper pulled down a team-high eight rebounds as Wayland held a 49-27 edge on the boards.
 
Thamires Andrade headed scoring for the Eagles with 16 points, the only player to score in double digits for SCU. The Eagles concluded the game shooting 19-of-58 (33 percent) from the field and 8-of-24 (33 percent) from behind the arc.
 
By claiming their final victories in regular season play (OCU took down Oklahoma-Panhandle State, 76-49, Saturday), Wayland and OCU (28-1, 19-1) share the SAC regular-season title. It's just the second time in the Queens' 25-year history with the SAC they've grabbed the crown, having won it outright in 2016.
 
The Stars earned the No. 1 seed in next week's SAC Tournament based on having a better record against NAIA Division I opponents.  
 
The defending SAC Tournament champion Queens get to return to their home court – where they are 14-0 this season – to host a quarterfinal at 6 p.m. Tuesday against seventh-seeded Southwestern Assemblies of God (14-14, 8-12). Wayland defeated SAGU in the regular-season, 108-63 and 74-55.
 
The winner of Tuesday's game and the three other first-round contests advance to the semifinals to be hosted by Wayland on Friday March 6, followed by the finals at 1 p.m. March 7.
 
Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament
At campus sites
Tuesday's Games
Quarterfinals
Game 1: No. 8 Langston (11-15) at No. 1 Oklahoma City (28-1), 6 p.m.
Game 2: No. 5 Texas Wesleyan (17-10) at No. 4 Mid-America Christian (20-10), 6 p.m.
Game 3: No. 6 Southwestern Christian (19-9) at No. 3 USAO (20-9), 6 p.m.
Game 4: No. 7 Southwestern Assemblies of God (14-14) at No. 2 Wayland Baptist (28-2), 6 p.m.
 
At Hutcherson Center
Plainview, Texas
Friday, March 6
Semifinals
Game 5: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 1 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 3 p.m.
Saturday, March 7
Championship
Game 7: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 1 p.m.