Basketball Teams Split at Wayland Baptist

PLAINVIEW, Texas – In one of the most exciting games of the season, the USAO men’s basketball team endured seven ties and 16 lead changes in a 66-63 win against Wayland Baptist on Thursday night. Meanwhile, the USAO women lead only once in a 67-64 loss to the Flying Queens at the Hutcherson Center.

With their three-point win, the Drover men improve to 7-14 overall and 4-8 in the Sooner Athletic Conference. The Drover women fall to 6-17 overall and 1-11 in the SAC. On Saturday, USAO travels south for a 1 p.m. doubleheader against Lubbock Christian. Next weekend, the Drovers are at St. Gregory’s on Thursday and at home Saturday against Oklahoma Baptist.

In the men’s game, USAO got a much-improved shooting performance and had three starters in double figures of the 66-63 win. The Drovers have won two straight and are inching closer to a possible berth in the SAC tournament.

USAO connected on 48 percent from the field in the first half and 10-of-13 from the free throw line. Wayland Baptist shot 42 percent from the field, but the USAO defense held the Pioneers to 2-of-16 from 3-point range. The Pioneers also got to the free throw line just four times, connecting on three, to lead 33-31 at halftime.

While USAO maintained its good shooting in the second half, Wayland Baptist cooled off considerably, hitting 36 percent from the field and 2-of-8 from beyond the arc. The Drovers hit 41 percent from the field and 3-of-8 from 3-point range. The Pioneers got the advantage at the free throw line in the half, attempting 19 to the Drovers’ 13.

Senior Keith Miller led three USAO starters in double figures with 24 points on 6-of-11 from the field and 9-of-10 from the free throw line. Senior Wayne Gibson finished with 22 points and a game-high 11 rebounds for his third double-double of the season. Senior Tony Jimmerson scored 13 points and five rebounds.

Junior Romeil Perkins struggled a bit from the field for four points, seven rebounds, a team-high three assists, and game-high four steals. Senior Martin Washington finished with two points and sophomore Avery Stevenson added a free throw to round out the scoring for USAO.  

For the game, USAO hit 44 percent (21-of-48) from the field, 36 percent (4-of-11) from 3-point range, and 77 percent (20-of-26) from the free throw line. The Drovers collected 33 rebounds, eight assists, seven steals, one block, and committed 21 turnovers.

Wayland Baptist (15-9, 5-8) also had three starters in double figures, led by Nate Bridges with 15 points. DeJuan Davis finished with 14 points, while Clifton Clarida added 11 points for the Pioneers. Danny Storey had a team-high 10 rebounds.

In the women’s game, USAO led only once and was out-rebounded 42-26 in a 67-64 loss to Wayland Baptist. The Drovers, however, had three starters in double figures and improved their shooting over the last few games.

The first half saw USAO hit 44 percent from the field and 5-of-10 from 3-point range, but Wayland Baptist connected on 48 percent from the field and 2-of-3 from beyond the arc to lead 36-30 at halftime. The Flying Queens also had an advantage at the free throw line, where they hit 6-of-9 compared to 1-of-2 for the Drovers.

In the second half, USAO turned up the defensive pressure and held Wayland Baptist to 35 percent from the field. The Drovers hit 43 percent from the field, but struggled a bit from 3-point range, hitting just 2-of-8. The Flying Queens hit 3-of-5 from beyond the arc and made four more free throws in the half to secure the 3-point win.  

Senior Secrett Stubblefield returned to the starting lineup and led all scorers with 27 points on 10-of-17 from the field and 3-of-4 from the free throw line. Stubblefield also added a team-high four assists and four steals. Junior Katie Sterling finished with 16 points and four steals.

Senior Christal Merriweather added 15 points, six rebounds, three steals and two assists for the Drovers. Senior Karole Roberts and sophomore Nikki Yager scored two points each, and Roberts hauled in six rebounds. Junior Christina Brown and senior Kayla Lawrence contributed a free throw apiece to round out USAO’s scoring.

For the game, USAO hit 44 percent (24-of-55) from the field, 39 percent (7-of-18) from 3-point range, and 69 percent (9-of-13) from the free throw line. The Drovers collected 26 rebounds, nine assists, two blocks, 13 steals and committed 17 turnovers.

Wayland Baptist (12-10, 7-6) had four players in double figures. Stephanie Shaw, Christa Condron, and Jennifer Doherty paced the Flying Queens with 13 points each. Shaw also grabbed a team-high nine rebounds and dished out a game-high six assists. Vanita Wright added 11 points and eight rebounds for the Queens.