PLAINVIEW, Texas — The Wayland Baptist Flying Queens delivered a strong all-around performance Tuesday afternoon, pulling away in the second half to secure a 68–52 victory over Huston-Tillotson at the Hutcherson Center.
Wayland Baptist (5-7, 4-3) set the tone early, opening the game with a stifling defensive effort that limited Huston-Tillotson to just nine points in the first quarter. The Queens capitalized on their defensive pressure and work on the glass to take a 21–9 advantage after one and never trailed the remainder of the contest.
Despite a quieter second quarter offensively, Wayland carried a 34–23 lead into halftime and responded with its best stretch of the game coming out of the locker room. The Queens shot over 50 percent from the field in the third quarter, outscoring the Rams 18–12 to extend the lead to as many as 24 points midway through the period.
Brooklyn Birkenfeld led the way for Wayland Baptist with a team-high 16 points and 11 rebounds, recording a double-double while anchoring the Queens inside the paint.
Peyton North added 14 points, while
Jadyn Trusler knocked down three triples on her way to 13 points.
Cania Mitchell chipped in eight points and five assists, helping orchestrate the offense throughout the afternoon.
Wayland Baptist controlled the boards, finishing with a 51–42 rebounding advantage, and turned defense into offense by scoring 14 points off turnovers. The Queens also received solid contributions from the bench, which accounted for 12 points.
Huston-Tillotson attempted to rally in the fourth quarter, but Wayland answered every push, maintaining a comfortable margin down the stretch. The Queens closed the game by converting timely free throws and executing defensively to seal the win.
The Flying Queens will return to the floor after the New Year's break when they travel to Oklahoma City to take on
RV Mid-America Christian. The game is scheduled to tip-off at 6:00 PM.
