SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. -- Three times over the last three seasons, the John Brown University women's basketball team posted an upset win over a ranked Wayland Baptist (Texas) squad. Unfortunately, the fourth didn't materialize as the No. 7 Flying Queens escaped Bill George Arena with a 71-68 decision on Thursday (Feb. 7) evening.
The league-leading Flying Queens (20-4, 14-2 Sooner Athletic) won its third straight overall and was able to withstand a game-high 25-point outburst from senior Baily Cameron, as she drilled 11-of-18 from the field and collected a game-high 10 rebounds in the Golden Eagle loss.
The matchup featured 10 lead changes and a 22-point swing. JBU (14-10, 10-7) held a nine-point lead in the second quarter while the visitors maintained a 13-point advantage in the fourth that would quickly evaporate, but not entirely.
Facing a 68-55 deficit, Cameron finished an old-fashioned three-point play that catapulted the Golden Eagles on a 12-2 run that was comprised of scoring from just Cameron and senior Preslea Lawson. Both forwards hit triples during the stretch, with Lawson's trey pulling John Brown within two, 70-68, with just 1:50 left in the contest.
Unfortunately, with a missed shot and a costly turnover during the next two possessions, after Morgan Bennett split her pair at the line with 15 seconds left the hosts were down to a final possession.
Working deep into the 15 seconds of available time, the Flying Queens covered the three-point line well and JBU turned the ball over on an errant pass under the bucket as WBU escaped with the victory.
Down 24-16 in the second quarter, the hosts rallied on a 19-2 run to pull ahead, 35-26. Wayland responded for the remaining 4:21 of the quarter to take a 40-37 lead into the break, ending on a 14-2 run of its own.
Lawson came off the bench to score 12 of her 18 points in the second half, hitting each of her five attempts from the field.
As expected, the visitors featured a balanced scoring attack, led by 12 points from Payton Brown and Kambrey Blakey. Kelea Pool added 11 while Bennett contributed 10 points and four assists.
The Flying Queens converted 14 offensive rebounds into 14 points, despite John Brown doubling up the visitors in the paint to the tune of 38-16.
JBU will finish the three-game week by welcoming Oklahoma Panhandle State to Bill George Arena on Saturday (Feb,. 9) afternoon in a 2 p.m. start time.
