Kaitlyn Edgemon double-banked in a layup just ahead of the buzzer to lift Wayland Baptist to a much-needed 55-54 victory over previously-unbeaten No. 20 Mid-America Christian on Saturday afternoon in Hutcherson Center.
MACU (8-1, 3-1 Sooner Athletic Conference) took the lead when Shy Christopher hit 1-of-2 free throws with 5½ seconds left. Wayland called timeout and was able to inbound the ball in front of its bench.
Ashlyn Shelley bounced the inbounds pass to Edgemon, who circled to the right side of the free-throw line where she took two long steps along the lane. Her shot with a defender in her face bounced off the backboard, circled the rim, kissed the glass again then fell in just before the buzzer sounded, setting off a jubilant celebration by the Flying Queens.
The win over the league-leading Evangels allowed Wayland (6-4, 2-2) to avoid what would have been a third-straight loss for the first time in seven years.
Edgemon's game-winner represented the 11th lead change of the game and completed WBU's rally from a nine-point deficit early in the second quarter. The Queens, who scored just seven points and made just 2-of-18 field goals (11 percent) in an anemic first quarter, trailed 16-7 but went on a 10-1 run to tie it on a 3-pointer by Shelley midway through the second.
Wayland got a 3 by Jenna Cooper-Jackson to kick off scoring in the third and kept the lead most of the period and the first six minutes of the fourth until a 3-pointer by Christopher put the Evangels up by one.
Jackson hit a pair of clutch free throws with 16 seconds left to tie it at 53. Christopher, who led all scorers with 17 points, was fouled as she drove to the basket but was only about to make one free throw, leaving the door open for Wayland to win it.
Jackson led Wayland with 15 points and nine rebounds, while Edgemon got 13 and nine along with five steals and three blocks. Maria Ghaleb came off the bench for her eight points and six boards, while Shelley ended with seven points. Kynnan Shields tacked on five points and seven rebounds.
Wayland hadn't won scoring so few points since the 2013-14 season when the Queens defeated Texas Wesleyan, 54-40. WBU shot 31.3 percent (18-of-57), including 5-of-15 3s (33.3 percent), compared to MACU's 31.6 percent (18-of-57), including 10-of-30 (33.3 percent) from long range. The Evangels were 8-of-15 (53 percent) from the foul stripe, where WBU hit 8-of-12 (67 percent).
The Queens turned it over a season-low 10 times, seven fewer than MACU.
It was Wayland's final home game until Jan. 5 as the Queens play their next three on the road – starting next Saturday in Kansas against winless Central Christian (0-9, 0-5) – before the Christmas break.Â
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