Hot-shooting Golden Eagles snap Queens' streak

Wayland Baptist scored the first two points of the game, but that's the only time the Flying Queens owned the lead as they fell to hot-shooting John Brown University in a Sooner Athletic Conference matchup Thursday evening at Hutcherson Center, 68-61.

After falling behind by as many as 20 points early in the second half, Wayland (9-5, 5-3) scratched and clawed its way to within five when Ashlyn Shelley popped a 3-pointer with 1:24 to play. John Brown (10-4, 4-4) hit a pair of free throws then the Queens came up empty on offense before Taryn Shultz came up with a steal and bucket for Wayland to make it 66-61 with 30 seconds to go.

Wayland fouled but the Golden Eagles again hit two free throws to make it a three-possession game. The Queens then missed a 3-pointer and JBU grabbed the rebound to seal it.

JBU won the game at the 3-point and free-throw lines where the Golden Eagles hit 12-of-28 (43 percent) from long range and 18-of-20 (90 percent) from the foul stripe. That compares to Wayland's 3-of-19 (16 percent) from distance and 10-of-15 (67 percent) from the foul line.

Emily Sanders and Natalie Smith, who shared high-point honors for the visitors from Arkansas with 14 points, hit four 3s apiece.

Only one Flying Queen finished in double-figures, Kaitlyn Edgemon with 21 points. She also came up with five steals and blocked three shots. Jenna Cooper-Jackson finished with nine points, 10 rebounds and five assists while Taylor Houston got eight points and 11 boards, nine on offense.

Wayland fell despite outrebounding the Golden Eagles by 10, 44-to-34. The Queens had two more offensive rebounds (23) than defensive.

The game ended lengthy lay-offs for both teams. Wayland was in action for the first time in three weeks while John Brown hadn't played for 24 days.

The loss snapped WBU's four-game winning streak.

The Queens are back in action at 2 p.m. Saturday against Oklahoma City University (6-7, 3-5), which defeated Oklahoma-Panhandle State on Thursday in Goodwell, 79-67. The Stars, who beat Oklahoma Wesleyan on Dec. 17, 83-66, have won back-to-back games for the first time this season.