WAXAHACHIE --- The Wayland Baptist Flying Queens faced a tough road test on Saturday afternoon, falling 83–53 to Nelson on the road, ending their five game winning streak.
The Queens were led offensively by
Cania Mitchell, who poured in a game-high 23 points on 9-of-19 shooting while adding four rebounds and three assists.
Brooklyn Birkenfeld provided a spark off the bench with 14 points, knocking down five field goals and going 3-for-5 from the free-throw line.
Wayland Baptist came out competitive early, trading baskets in the opening minutes and briefly taking the lead midway through the first quarter. However, Nelson used an early shooting surge to build momentum, closing the opening period ahead 26–14. The Pioneers continued to battle in the second quarter, getting timely buckets from Mitchell and Birkenfeld, but trailed 45–26 at halftime.
Despite the score, Wayland showed resilience after the break. Mitchell continued to attack the rim and get to the free-throw line, while the Queens defense forced turnovers and limited second-chance opportunities. Wayland outscored Nelson in the fourth quarter, 16–15, highlighted by late baskets from Birkenfeld,
Ainsley Herbert, and
Arianna Cruz, who connected on a three-pointer in the final seconds.
Wayland finished the game with 22 bench points, showing valuable depth and continued development across the lineup. The Queens also moved the ball effectively at times, recording 15 assists and scoring 24 points in the paint.
The Queens will now return home for a three-game homestand beginning Thursday, February 5
th, when they host College of the Ozarks at 6:00 PM in the Hutcherson Center.
