USAO’s Bench Produces 52 Points in Dominant Win Against Wayland Baptist

CHICKASHA, Okla. – Saturday afternoon, the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (13-2, 8-1 SAC) stayed perfect at home this season and stretched their win streak to six with an 88-66 triumph against Wayland Baptist University (5-9, 4-5 SAC). With the win, the Drovers have won all seven home games this season and improve to 11-32 against the Flying Queens in head-to-head matchups since January 2007. 

Additionally, the Drovers now sit alone at the top of the Sooner Athletic Conference standings, as the only one loss team in the league. USAO will face each conference opponent twice during the regular season, and they have faced every team once so far, besides Texas Wesleyan University and Nelson University. USAO's resume features impressive wins against No. 19 ranked Langston University and No. 23 ranked MACU, and with those quality wins, USAO ranks at No. 16 in the latest RPI released by the NAIA.

The Drovers haven't just been winning games, they have been DOMINATING games, with an average scoring margin of +18.3.

After a slow start on Saturday, USAO trailed 13-4 four minutes into the contest, but closed the quarter on a 22-5 run to hold a 26-18 advantage at the end of the first. The teams traded baskets in the second quarter, with the Drovers narrowly outscoring the Flying Queens 18-17 to take a 44-35 lead into the break.

Following halftime, Wayland looked reinvigorated and pulled within two (58-56) with 1:37 remaining in the third quarter. The Drovers knocked down a late free-throw to hold a three-point lead going into the fourth. USAO thoroughly dominated the final 10 minutes, outscoring WBU 29-10 to clinch the blowout victory against college basketball's winningest women's program.

USAO's offense closed the game shooting 33-59 (.559) from the field, 1-7 (.143) from beyond the arc, and 21-28 (.750) from the free-throw line. In comparison, WBU shot 22-68 (.324) from the field, 10-29 (.345) from deep, and 12-18 (.667) from the charity stripe. 

The Drovers scored 54 points in the paint and hauled in 40 rebounds. In comparison, the Flying Queens scored 24 points in the paint and grabbed 28 rebounds. 

USAO committed 14 turnovers, resulting in 17 points for WBU, while the Flying Queens fumbled the ball 17 times, leading to 30 points for the Drovers. USAO was whistled for 22 fouls, while WBU was called for 19 violations.

USAO's bench provided a massive spark, producing 52 of the team's 88 points. Four different Drovers scored in double digits, led by Nyapar Mathot's massive double-double with 25 points and 13 rebounds. Ti'Alone Banks produced her first double-double of the season with 18 points on 8-12 shooting from the field, along with 10 rebounds. Chaniya Felton added 14 points and four steals, while Evangelia Davlakou closed with 10 points, five rebounds, and four assists.

Mya Brown finished with seven points, four assists, and a pair of steals. Jordyn Rollins and Trinity Humphrey each concluded with six points and three rebounds. Pashonnay Johnson scored two points and dished out an assist.

RECENT TRENDS

• EVERYBODY EATS! Every Drover is averaging 5.9 points or more per contest this season.
  • Every player averages 18.6 minutes or more per game.

• Evangelia Davlakou is a 2x SAC Offensive Player of the Week this season
  • 1^st in SAC in assists (4.3 APG), 5^th in scoring (14.8 PPG), 6^th in steals (2.4 SPG) 

• Hannah Harris ranks 2^nd in the SAC in rebounds per game (8.3)

• Jordyn Rollins ranks 2^nd in SAC in field goal percentage (.529)
  • Ranks 5^th in SAC in three-point percentage (.425)

• Chaniya Felton ranks 2^nd in SAC in steals per game (2.9)

TEAM STATS

• • Drovers rank 2^nd in SAC in points per game (77.6)
  • 1^st in FG% (.452), 1^st in 3PT% (.350), 5^th in FT% (.710)
  • 1st in SAC in opp. FG% (.328)
  • 1st in SAC in opp. 3PT (.258)
  • 2^nd in Net Efficiency (.250), 2^nd in Off. Efficiency (1.000)
  • 2^nd in SAC in Def. Eff. (.757)
  • 2^nd in SAC rebounds per game (41.6)
    • 2^nd in rebound margin (6.9)
  • 2^nd in blocks per game (2.7)
  • 2^nd in assists per game (15.7)
  • 3^rd in SAC in opp. Points per game (59.3)

• • +18.3 in average scoring margin 

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Drovers will return to Brisco McPherson Court on Thursday, January 15 as they host Texas Wesleyan University. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 PM CT inside Drover Fieldhouse.

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