Basketball Teams Fall to Wayland Baptist

Coming off a split with Lubbock Christian on Thursday, the USAO basketball teams lost a doubleheader Saturday against Wayland Baptist at USAO Fieldhouse. The Drover women lost 62-60 to the Flying Queens, while the men fell 92-73 to the Pioneers.

With the loss, the USAO women fall to 5-8 overall and 0-2 in the Sooner Athletic Conference. Meanwhile, the Drover men drop to 4-7 overall and 1-1 in the SAC. Tonight, the Drovers host Northwestern in a doubleheader beginning at 6 p.m. On Thursday, USAO travels to Oklahoma City and hosts Oklahoma Christian on Saturday.

In the women’s game Saturday, USAO took a 6-4 lead in the opening five minutes but fell behind 8-6 two minutes later. From that point, the Drovers never led again and tied the game one more time at 23-all in the final two minutes of the first half. USAO forced Wayland Baptist into 17 turnovers in the first half, but only turned them into 11 points.

In the second half, the Drovers improved their field goal shooting to 41 percent, and stayed within striking distance as the Flying Queens never pushed their lead to double digits. USAO made a run in the final two minutes, but Wayland made eight free throws in that time span to ice the 62-60 win. 

Senior newcomer Secret Stubblefield came off the bench to lead the Drovers with 17 points on 3-of-3 from 3-point range and also grabbed six rebounds in her debut.  Junior Katie Sterling was the other Drover in double figures with 13 points and four rebounds.

Senior Karole Roberts finished with nine points on 3-of-5 from the field and 3-of-4 from the free throw line and three rebounds. Senior Christal Merriweather scored six points, three rebounds and a team-high four assists. Junior Stephanie Russell added five points and four rebounds, and junior Nicole Sherman finished with a team-high nine rebounds and four points.

For the game, USAO shot 34 percent (19-of-56) from the field, 19 percent (4-of-21) from 3-point range and 69 percent (18-of-26) from the free throw line. The Drovers collected 35 rebounds, 10 assists, eight seals, four blocks and committed 14 turnovers.

Sophomore Vanita Wright had career highs with 20 points and 17 rebounds to lead Wayland Baptist. Senior Stephanie Shaw was the only other Flying Queen in double figures with 12 points and six rebounds.

In the men’s game, USAO led by as many as 16 points in the first half, but surrendered 65 points in the second half in a 92-73 loss. The Drovers hit nearly 55 percent from the field and jumped out to a 21-12 lead with 8:00 left in the half. Their largest lead was 32-16 with 4:55 left.

The teams’ fortunes reversed in the second half, as USAO managed just 34 percent from the field, while Wayland Baptist connected on nearly 66 percent of its shots. The Pioneers also hit 9-of-14 from 3-point range to out-score the Drovers 65-35.

Three USAO starters finished double figures, led by senior Wayne Gibson with 29 points and six rebounds. Senior Tony Jimmerson was 5-of-5 from the field for 13 points and five rebounds. Sophomore Avery Stevenson added 11 points and five rebounds.

Junior Romeil Perkins finished with a team-high eight rebounds and four points. For the second straight game, senior Keith Miller was hampered with foul trouble, but finished with a game-high seven assists and a basket.

For the game, USAO hit 43 percent (25-of-58) from the field, 32 percent (6-of-19) from 3-point range and 59 percent (17-of-29) from the free throw line. The Drovers collected 40 rebounds, 14 assists, four steals, one block and committed 19 turnovers 

Wayland Baptist also had three starters in double figures. Junior DeJuan Davis finished with a game-high 30 points and six rebounds. Sophomore Kendall Webb hit 15-of-18 from the free throw line for 24 points and added a team-high six assists. Junior Clifton Clarida scored 21 points and a team-high eight rebounds for the Pioneers.