Flying Queens bounce back with win over Stars

Jenna Cooper-Jackson scored 31 points and flirted with a triple-double, and Wayland Baptist used a dominating third quarter to rally to an 80-66 Sooner Athletic Conference win over Oklahoma City University at Hutcherson Center Saturday afternoon.

"Today was a great bounce-back game for us," said Wayland coach Jason Cooper, whose team fell to John Brown University on Thursday. "We are young in some key spots and I believe that's why we've been so up and down. When you look at our roster and realize we only have one senior and we are winning some big games and always competing, you have to be excited about the future."

Wayland (10-5, 6-3 SAC) trailed by seven in the first quarter and by eight midway through the second before pulling to within two, 34-32, at halftime. The Queens ramped up their play after intermission, outscoring the Stars (6-7, 3-5) 30-14 in the third period.

It was tied at 39 when Cooper-Jackson hit her second 3-pointer of the quarter to put Wayland ahead for good. The Queens were up by three when they went on a quarter-ending 12-1 run, capped by a buzzer-beating, fast-break 3 by Hadlee Gomez that followed earlier bombs by Ashlyn Shelley and Taryn Shultz.

The Queens kept it rolling in the fourth, opening the stanza with another 3 by Cooper-Jackson to kick off an 8-0 run and completing a combined 20-1 spurt that gave WBU its largest lead of the game, 22 points, 70-48.

After hitting just 3-of-19 3s Thursday, Wayland nailed a season-high 12-of-24 bombs against OCU, including a 5-of-10 effort from Cooper-Jackson, who ended with 31 points (three off her season-best) to go with nine assists and seven rebounds.

"Jenna bounced back in a big way. She had a big-time performance, and we needed it," Coach Cooper said. "We also, finally, found our groove from behind the arc. That sure opens thing up for us."
 
Kaitlyn Edgemon added 15 points and seven boards while freshman Taylor Houston came off the bench for her 11 points and 10 rebounds.

"I'm not sure what Taylor asked for from Santa but he brought our team a couple of huge performances to start the new year. Today's double-double off the bench was huge," Coach Cooper said. "Marchelle Bowden (eight points) has had two excellent games this year as well. She brings some athleticism and energy to the game."  

OCU was led by Annilia Dawn's 20 points. Fiona Wilson and Amaya Gordon added 16 points each, and Wilson also logged 10 rebounds.

Wayland, which outscored the Stars 22-7 off the bench, shot 55 percent from the field, including 79 percent (11-of-14) in the third and 5-of-3 3s.

"I think this week we've found a group of girls who will fight for their teammates and sacrifice for the greater good. There is a lot to be said for having grit, heart and a little bit of dog in you," Cooper said. "Nothing trumps hard work."

The Queens are back on the road next week, first taking on league-leading Texas Wesleyan at 6 p.m. Thursday in Fort Worth. The Lady Rams (14-1, 9-0) won their 13^th straight game Saturday, 92-85 on the road against Langston.