Plainview, Texas - The Wayland Baptist Flying Queens went on a huge spurt that extended from the latter stages of the first half into the opening part of the second and held on for a 72-66 win over the Mid-America Christian Lady Evangels in a Sooner Athletic Conference matchup Thursday evening (Jan. 27) in Plainview, Texas.

After Tranecia Smith hit a jumper that put the Lady Evangels up 31-29 at the 2:15 mark of the opening half, the Flying Queens scored the final nine points of the half and then Jessen Tucker opened the second half with a trey that gave WBU a 12-point lead. 

The Flying Queens continued to build the lead as a three by Alex Williams and a pair of free throws from Tucker made it 55-38 with 14:47 remaining.

It was a 16-point deficit when Smith hit another jumper that started a 15-4 spurt that brought the Lady Evangels to within 61-56 at the 6:18 mark. 

The Lady Evangels came even closer as consecutive jumpers from Smith and Michelle Hardimon cut the lead to two at 68-66 with just 47 seconds left.

But that's as close as MACU could get as four straight free throws by Tucker closed out the win for the Flying Queens. 

Nicole Wittman continued her stellar play with a team-high 16 points along with five rebounds. Smith scored 12 and also had five rebounds with four assists, while Marcy Robinson had nine points, five boards and a game-high six steals. 

Williams led the Flying Queens (12-8, 6-7 SAC) with 16 points along with a game-high 17 rebounds. Erika Raymond also had 16 and Tucker added 15. 

The Lady Evangels (10-9, 6-7 SAC) forced 24 turnovers and also out-scored the Flying Queens 24-18 in the paint.