photo: sacsportsnetwork.com
LANGSTON, Okla. – Having fallen behind 13-0 to start their most recent game that resulted in their first loss of the season, the Wayland Baptist Flying Queens did the exact same thing to Langston and got back on the winning track here Thursday night.
Jenna Cooper, Kaylee Edgemon and Angel Hayden all flirted with double-doubles as they propelled No. 6 Wayland to an 86-73 Sooner Athletic Conference victory over the Lions. Cooper produced 23 points and eight rebounds, Edgemon 21 and eight, and Hayden 18 and nine in the matchup of teams atop the SAC standings. Kaitlyn Edgemon added 14 points and seven assists.
“We came out tonight like a team that was on a business trip. We were more focused and intense all week long at practice than we have been in a while,” WBU coach Jason Cooper said. “When you play a good team like Langston and get 23, 21, 18 and 14 (points) from your four big offensive players, good things will happen.”
Coming off a 76-66 loss to No. 21 Concordia (Neb.) on Nov. 27, the win boosted Wayland to 9-1 on the year and 3-0 in the league, while Langston fell to 8-2, 3-1.
“I think the loss last Saturday really got our attention. Our energy was way up and our enthusiasm was contagious from the bench to the court. We were all in it to win it,” Coach Cooper said.
The Queens’ fast start featured Kaitlyn Edgemon scoring six of the first eight points, a couple of buckets by Cooper, and an and-one by Kaylee Edgemon. Langston missed its first six field goal attempts and turned it over twice before finally getting on the board four minutes into the game.
Wayland was up 32-16 after the first period.
“The 32-point first quarter was a season-high for us. It was huge,” Coach Cooper said. “Jenna’s hot hand in the first half really helped us settle in and take control of the game.”
Wayland went up by as many as 24 points in the second period and 26 in the third. Langston closed to within 13 with 4½ minutes to play in the game, but that’s as close as it got.
“I challenged them all week to play the whole game: defend, rebound, screen and assist the scoring. I felt like we’ve been just doing enough to win and not really getting after every aspect of the game,” Coach Cooper said.
The Queens hit 21-of-24 free throws (88 percent), including 7-of-7 for Kaylee Edgemon, compared to just 12-of-23 (52 percent) for Langston, and Wayland held a commanding 48-34 rebounding edge. Hayden was 6-of-7 from the field.
“Angel, Jenna and Kaylee dominated the boards. We had 21 offensive boards, a season-high, and we out-rebounded them by 14,” Coach Cooper said. We scored 50 points in the paint, which I believe is a season high.
“I was proud of our team’s willingness to share the ball and pass up a good shot for a better shot tonight. Kaitlyn’s seven assists are a career-high. That was huge in our success.
“Kaylee was asked to do a few things a little different this game and she really bought into the team concept and ultimately had a huge game scoring herself.”
Langston was led by Asheika Alexander’s 20 points and eight rebounds. Alanna Spencer added 15 points, all on 3-pointers (5-of-8).
The Queens travel to McPherson, Kan., for their next game at 2 p.m. Saturday against Central Christian (1-9, 0-4), which fell on Thursday to Oklahoma-Panhandle State, 82-41.