Oklahoma City, Oklahoma –
Megan Nestor goes for another double-double, but the Queens had a tough first quarter and weren't able to complete the comeback against Mid-America Christian University (Okla.) (12-6, 6-6 SAC) in Oklahoma City on Thursday night.
RV Wayland Baptist (15-4, 10-3 SAC) had a rough start to the game offensively missing their first six shots and committing nine turnovers.
Emily Sigala hit a 3-pointer for the Queens first made field goal with :25 remaining in the quarter to make the score 17-7 at the end of the first quarter.
Two
Megan Nestor layups got the Queens going in the second quarter to make the score 19-11 just two minutes into the frame. With the score at 26-13 in favor of MACU, the Queens outscored the Evangels 15-4 in the final five minutes of the half to cut their deficit to 2 points. MACU took a 30-28 lead into the halftime break. Nestor was able to score 10 of her 21 points in the second quarter after going 5-6 from the floor.
With the score at 40-31 with just under seven minutes left in the third, Nestor was able to convert on three free throw attempts, and Sigala was able to attack the bucket for a layup to trim the Evangels lead down to 40-36. After trading a pair of 5-point runs, a 3-pointer by
Bobbie Fouquet with just over thirty seconds remaining in the frame made it a 48-45 score in favor of MACU.
The Queens hit their first three jumpshots in the final quarter started by a
Marchelle Bowden jumper and finished with two buckets by Fouquet including a 3-pointer to give the Queens a 52-51 lead with just over seven minutes left in regulation. The lead changed eight times over the final six minutes of the game. Sigala was able to score a layup with just over a minute remaining in the game, but the Evangels would go on to convert on eight free throw attempts to hold off the Queens 69-61.
Only knocking down one field goal proved to be costly for the Flying Queens as it put them in an early hole that was tough to escape from. Head coach
Jason Cooper said, "Ultimately it came down to the first quarter. Can't start out the game up tight and commit so many turnovers and get yourself down by 13. If you spend too much energy fighting back, which we did, but at that point we're so tired that we let some things happen defensively that we hadn't allowed the whole game."
Coach Cooper stated, "We have to learn from it and get better."
Megan Nestor continued her domination with 21 points, 22 rebounds, and finishing 8-11 from the field. Fouquet added 11 points, 3 assists, and shot 2-4 from 3-point range.
Emily Sigala finished with 10 points, 6 assists, and 3 rebounds.
Up next for the RV Flying Queens is another Sooner Athletic Conference road matchup in Oklahoma as they face off against Southwestern Christian (10-8, 6-6 SAC). Tip is set for Saturday afternoon at 2:00 PM.
