Flying Queens secure share of SAC crown

With Kaylee Edgemon ripping off 28 points and Angel Hayden just missing a triple-double, the 10^th-ranked Wayland Baptist Flying Queens put together three impressive quarters and rolled to a 104-69 victory over Southwestern Assemblies of God on Thursday night in Hutcherson Center.

"It was another solid, all-around performance by our team. I was very proud of how hard they worked and how well they executed on the offensive end," WBU coach Jason Cooper said.
 
The win gives the Flying Queens (27-3, 19-2 SAC) at worst a share of the Sooner Athletic Conference title, which they can secure outright with a win in the regular-season finale on Saturday against the University of North Texas-Dallas (12-16, 6-15). WBU defeated the UNTD in the first half of league play, 91-77. The rematch happens at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Hutch.

On Thursday, the Queens came out on fire against the Lady Lions (9-18, 6-15), hitting the game's first dozen points. The fast start featured traditional 3-point plays by both Edgemon and Jenna Cooper.

It was 30-18 after the first quarter, a margin equaled in the second period for a 60-36 halftime score.

"We knew coming into this game that SAGU was playing well and ready to compete against us. We also knew how much was at stake in this game, and I thought tonight we played with a lot of purpose, passion and pride," Coach Cooper said.
 
After such an impressive first half, the Flying Queens cooled a bit in the third and outscored SAGU just 12-9. But they heated up again in the fourth with their most impressive offensive period of the game. WBU posted 32 points, shooting an eye-popping 68 percent (13-of-19) from the field.
 
Edgemon, who earlier in the week was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District Team, ended 11-of-18 from the field as she enjoyed her third-highest point total of the season.
 
"Kaylee is doing a really good job figuring out ways to score," Coach Cooper said. "Teams are doubling her down in the post and she is starting to get a good feel for where to go on offense to take advantage of those double-teams. She really is playing well."
 
Jenna Cooper and Kaitlyn Edgemon added 19 points apiece, with Kaitlyn also grabbing nine rebounds and just missing her ninth double-double of the season.
 
Hayden did secure her fifth double-double with 10 points and a season-high 15 rebounds, and with eight assists came the closest she has all season to a triple-double. She also had four steals.
 
"Angel continues to amaze me with her rebounding. I thought she was going to get the triple-double tonight. She is playing such good defense and doing so many big things for us," Coach Cooper said.
 
"Jenna is continuing to play solid, all-around basketball, making big plays, big passes and hitting some great shots. She's been solid all year and so consistent during conference.
 
"Katelyn seems like every day is getting better and better. She impresses me at practice with her ability to just get things done. I feel like we're going to look up when her career is over and she's going to own the record books," Coach Cooper said.
 
Lara Mason tacked on nine points, her second-best offensive output of the season.
 
WBU ended with 57 rebounds, 18 more than SAGU, which hit 10 3-pointers to seven for the Queens.  
 
The 104 points represent Wayland's second-highest total of the season, behind only a 110-61 victory over Central Christian on Dec. 4 in McPherson, Kan.

Looking ahead to Saturday, Coach Cooper said, "We want the outright conference championship. That is a goal that we've had all year, and winning tonight's game put us in a position to do that on Saturday."