Box Score

SHAWNEE, OK: The Texas Wesleyan University Women's basketball squad (15-16) ended their Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament run with a 54-40 loss against #18 Wayland Baptist University (20-10) in a quarterfinal contest at the Mabee Arena on Thursday.
 
The Flying Queens made an early 8-3 run in the first minutes of the contest capped by a pair of Iesha Greer free throws. Texas Wesleyan made it a one-point, 13-12 game with an Amy Moody jumper with 8:58 remaining in the first half.  Moody made the back end of a pair of free throw attempts to tie the game, and Kayla McCray knocked down a good jump shot to grab a 15-13 lead with just over six minutes left in the half.
 
Stephanie Afunugo came right back with a two-pointer to tie, and Laura Castillo drained a three to take an18-15 lead. Wayland Baptist rallied with a 15-2 run capped by a Greer free throw to jump out to a 28-17 lead. Krissy Parker put in a jumper to beat the buzzer to make up a little ground for a 30-20 Wayland lead at the break.
 
The early 9:00 am start might have attributed to both teams shooting below average in the first half. Wayland Baptist shot 27 percent, as Texas Wesleyan shot 28 percent from the field.
 
It was a good second half start for the Lady Rams, taking a 10-4 rally capped by a Caitlin Boal jumper to cut the lead to 34-31. Both teams stymied for over five minutes of game time, as neither team found the bottom of the net.  Castillo finally broke the silence with another shot from downtown for a 40-31 lead for the Flying Queens. Another Boal bucket cut the lead to five points at 45-40, but the Flying Queens slowly pulled away with a 54-40 quarter final win.
 
Both teams finished shooting 27 percent, in what was a defensive struggle of sorts. Wesleyan had a hard time from the free throw line, shooting only 58 percent, while Wayland Baptist shot 76 percent from the charity stripe. The Flying Queen held a slight edge in rebounding, 48-45. Texas Wesleyan was hurt by the 14 WBU points converted off of 26 Lady Ram turnovers.
 
Onyesonam Nolisa notched 11 points and six boards for the Lady Rams. ToiEasha Cooper posted six points, while grabbing 11 rebounds. Moody finished with 10 points and eight boards.
 
Texas Wesleyan held its own in their inaugural season competing in a very tough Sooner Athletic Conference. The Lady Rams will look to improve on a fair, but competitive 2013-2014 season.