MCPHERSON, Kan. --- The Wayland Baptist Flying Queens put together a complete performance on both ends of the floor Saturday afternoon, rolling to a 60–39 victory over Central Christian College in Sooner Athletic Conference action at the McPherson Community Building.
Wayland set the tone early and never looked back, leading wire-to-wire behind a strong defensive effort that limited Central Christian to just 17.3 percent shooting from the field. The Flying Queens held the Saints to single-digit points in each of the first three quarters and built a commanding 25–15 halftime advantage before pulling away after the break.
Brooklyn Birkenfeld led all scorers with 18 points on an efficient 8-of-13 shooting performance, adding nine rebounds to pace Wayland inside.
Zalika Stevens provided a spark off the bench with nine points and six rebounds, while
Cania Mitchell stuffed the stat sheet with eight points, five assists, and three steals to help control the tempo.
Wayland's defense was the story throughout the afternoon, forcing 23 Central Christian turnovers and converting them into 23 points. The Flying Queens also dominated the glass, outrebounding the Saints 43–36 and scoring 28 points in the paint.
After a steady first half, Wayland used a 19-point third quarter to stretch the lead to 44–25 entering the final period. The Flying Queens continued to share the ball and knock down timely shots in the fourth, finishing the game shooting 41.8 percent from the floor.
Bella Dabbs and
Jadyn Trusler each chipped in seven points, with Trusler also going a perfect 4-for-4 at the free throw line. Wayland's bench contributed 18 points, underscoring the team's balanced effort.
With the win, the Flying Queens improved to 4–7 overall and 4–3 in SAC play, gaining momentum as conference action continues. The Flying Queens will host the Rams of Huston-Tillotson University on Tuesday, December 16
th, for their final game before the Christmas break. Tip-off is scheduled for 12:00 PM at the Hutcherson Center.
