Plainview – The 12th ranked Flying Queens overcame a tough shooting night for a huge comeback win over Texas Wesleyan, 62-56, to move to 17-2 over and 14-2 in Sooner Athletic Conference play.
The Queens got off to a slow start to begin tonight's game and only managed nine points in the first quarter.
Kaitlyn Jerden scored four quick points to begin the frame, but the Queens saw a scoreless six-minute stretch and allowed the Rams to carry a 17-9 lead into the second quarter.
Megan Nestor got the Queens going early to begin the second after scoring two quick buckets, making it 17-13 Rams. Texas Wesleyan held a 28-23 lead midway through the quarter, but the Queens found a jolt of energy and scored the next nine points over a two-minute stretch to take a 32-28 lead.
Texas Wesleyan hit a three with just over two minutes left until the halftime break to make it 32-31, and neither team scored a bucker for the remainder of the quarter.
The two teams traded buckets for the first three minutes of the second half, but the Rams gained the momentum after going on a 10-0 run that saw them knock down three straight three-pointers to take a 46-37 lead.
With the Queens down nine with just over a minute left in the third, Jerden would finish the frame with a baseline jumper to make it 48-41 Rams heading into the fourth.
After three quarters of trying to find a rhythm, the Queens finally found their groove coming out of the fourth going on a 10-0 scoring run with all ten points coming from Nestor and Jerden. The scoring run gave the Queens a 51-48 lead – a lead they wouldn't surrender for the remainder of the game.
Seniors
Emily Sigala and
Linda Brice sealed the 62-56 victory for the Queens by sinking all four free throw attempts in the final minute.
Jerden led the way offensively for the Queens with 24 points, nine rebounds, and a team-high five steals. Nestor had a near 20-20 night – finishing with 20 points and 18 rebounds with 14 of those coming on offensive boards. Brice added six points, ten rebounds, five assists, and four steals.
"It was a hard-fought game. I thought our girls really came up with some big plays late," said Head Coach
Jason Cooper after tonight's win. "Whether we needed a basket or a stop in the fourth, it seemed like we just came up with big plays late after big play."
Coach Cooper continued, "In the big moments, you need your big players to step up. Kaitlyn and Megan both locked in and collectively took control of both ends of the floor in the fourth quarter."
The Queens finished tonight's game with a team field goal percentage of 32.1%, while shooting 15% from three-point range and 69.2% from the free throw line. However, they created 17 steals defensively, won the rebound battle 54-37, had 15 assists to Texas Wesleyan's 10, and forced 26 Ram turnovers. The "little-things" it takes to win conference games showed their importance in this one.
"When you shoot as poorly as we did as a team, you better rebound well. I'd say 35 offensive rebounds was just what we needed," stated Coach Cooper.
The 12th ranked Flying Queens return to action on Saturday, January 25th when they take on the Drovers of Science and Arts (Okla.). Tip-off is scheduled for 2:00 PM at the Hutcherson Center.
