McPherson, Kan. – Still without leading scorer and rebounder Chloe Clevenger for the fifth straight game, Central Christian could not overcome a difficult shooting afternoon on Saturday, falling 60–39 to the Wayland Baptist Flying Queens in Sooner Athletic Conference play. The loss drops the Tigers to 5–8 overall and 1–6 in SAC action, while Wayland moves to 4–7, 4–3 SAC.
Central opened the game with a 4–0 lead and trailed just 14–10 after the first quarter, but the offense stalled in the second, where the Tigers managed only five points. Wayland took a 25–15 halftime advantage, then used a 19-point third quarter to extend the margin to 44–25. The Flying Queens later pushed the lead to as many as 30 before Central closed the game on a small late run.
Wayland forward Brooklyn Birkenfeld led all scorers with 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting, including 2-of-2 from beyond the arc, while also pulling down 9 rebounds. Zalika Stevens added 9 points and 6 boards off the bench, and Cania Mitchell contributed 8 points, 5 assists, and 3 steals. The Flying Queens shot 41.8 percent from the floor and 33.3 percent from three, and capitalized on 23 Central turnovers that turned into 23 points.
Central Christian never found offensive rhythm, shooting 9-of-52 from the field (17.3 percent) and 2-of-13 from three. The Tigers did their best work at the foul line, finishing 19-of-25 (76.0 percent). Kylee Jones and Charmayne Marshall each scored 9 points to pace Central, with Jones going 4-of-4 at the stripe and Marshall 7-of-10.
Inside, C’Niyah Williams delivered one of the Tigers’ strongest efforts with 7 points, a team-high 9 rebounds, and 3 blocks in 16 minutes. Madyson George added 5 points and 2 rebounds off the bench. Central held its own on the glass, trailing only 43–36 overall and matching Wayland in second-chance points (11–11), but long scoring droughts and live-ball turnovers ultimately dictated the outcome.
Central Christian heads into the Christmas break at 5–8 and will return to action on Saturday, January 3rd, traveling to #11 Langston University (10–2, 6–2 SAC) for a 2 p.m. matchup.
