Photo credit: Claudia Lusk
The Flying Queens returned from Christmas break facing the teeth of the SAC schedule, playing nine games with a four-game homestand at The Hutch. Head Coach Jordan Vessels says the team found its stride.
“January was a defining stretch for the Flying Queens. We saw tremendous confidence grow within our young team. After back-to-back losses at MACU and USAO, our response—a five-game winning streak, including four wins in seven days—showed our mental toughness and preparation. Each player has bought into their role, and that commitment has elevated our team. January showed what we’re capable of—February is about sustaining it and continuing to raise the standard of Flying Queens basketball.”
Freshman Cania Mitchell (Amarillo) leads the team in scoring at 14.8 points per game. She’s followed by freshman Brooklyn Birkenfeld (Nazareth) at 9.9 points per game and junior Peyton North (Lubbock) at 9.3.
January Recap
Jan. 8 at Mid-America Christian — L, 65–77
Jan. 10 at USAO — L, 66–88
Jan. 17 vs. Southwestern Christian — W, 60–54
Jan. 17 vs. Oklahoma City — W, 71–49
Jan. 19 vs. Oklahoma Panhandle State — W, 72–61
Jan. 22 vs. Central Christian — W, 82–69
Jan. 24 vs. Langston — Rescheduled to Feb. 9 (weather)
Jan. 29 at Texas Wesleyan — W, 65–53
Jan. 31 at Nelson — L, 53–83
February Outlook
The Queens play seven games in February, five at The Hutch, and close the regular season on Homecoming, Saturday, Feb. 21, against Mid-America Christian at 2:00 p.m.
Feb. 5 vs. College of the Ozarks — 6 p.m.
Feb. 7 vs. John Brown — 2 p.m.
Feb. 9 vs. Langston — 6 p.m.
Feb. 12 at Oklahoma City — 6 p.m.
Feb. 14 at Southwestern Christian — 2 p.m.
Feb. 19 vs. USAO — 6 p.m.
Feb. 21 vs. Mid-America Christian — 2 p.m.
New Conference Tourney Format
All games of the 2026 Sooner Athletic Conference Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships will be played at one site: Abe Lemons Arena on the campus of Oklahoma City University. The tournament runs February 25–27, with the championship games on Saturday, February 28.
“This new format creates a true championship atmosphere,” said SAC Commissioner John Martin. “Bringing all teams together in one place allows us to celebrate SAC basketball and create a great experience for our student-athletes and fans.”