KWU Sports Information
LEAVENWORTH – Kansas Wesleyan women's coach Ryan Showman is never certain which of his players will have a standout game night in and night out.
Saturday's contest against Saint Mary was no exception.
Angel Roman (SO/Jacksonville, Fla.), Tylieea Wallace (SO/Overland Park, Kan.) and Jill Stephens (SO/Colby, Kan.), who weren't on the floor for the opening tip, combined for 44 points and 18 rebounds as the Coyotes rallied in the second half for a 78-69 Kansas Conference victory at the Ryan Sports Center.
It was their sixth in a row and raised their record to 6-5 overall, 6-1 in the KCAC.
Roman, KWU's Energizer Bunny and backup point guard, led the charge with a career-best 18 points. Stephens scored 15 that included three 3-pointers and also had five rebounds, two assists and two steals. Wallace posted a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds – her second double-double in the last three games.
The trio combined for 10 points as the Coyotes went on a pivotal 19-3 third quarter run that turned a 44-39 deficit into a 58-47 lead with 7½ minutes left in the period.
Roman scored eight points and Stephens seven in the fourth quarter as KWU fended off the Spires' comeback attempts.
"We're deep and our depth allows us to play a lot of people so we don't know who's turn it's going to be," Showman said. "You've got to step up and make plays when it's your opportunity, you can't let those go.
"Angel in particular was huge off the bench, Tylieea had a double-double and Jill Stephens got us going in the first half when we struggled out of the gate. We were able to sub and bring in some folks that were able to compete and make some plays."
Two starters also scored in double figures – Caila Hill (SR/Rossville, Kan.) finished with 13 points and LyMyah Ricks had 11 as the Coyotes shot 52 percent from the field (26 of 52) and 50 percent from beyond the 3-point arc (6 of 12). They also made 15 of 16 free throws the second half after going 5 of 13 the first 20 minutes – Roman and Stephens a combined 8 for 8 at the line the final 49 seconds.
"I told them at halftime 'if we're going to win this game tonight and win games on the road in this league, we have to be able to finish our free throws,'" Showman said. "Not finishing your free throws on the road is almost a death sentence and we knew we had to be a lot better. They were aware of how important that is and did a great job finishing in the second half."
KWU scored the last three points of the first half but trailed 34-30 at the break. Saint Mary (6-5, 3-4 KCAC) stretched its lead to six twice early in the third quarter before the Coyotes' decisive 19-3 burst.
Trailing 58-47 early in the fourth quarter the Spires narrowed the gap to 58-53 with six straight points but KWU quickly responded with eight unanswered points for a 66-58 lead with 3½ minutaes left. USM got no closer than seven the rest of the way.
The Spires shot 41 percent (26 of 63), 27 percent from deep (7 of 26) and made 10 of 11 free throws. Paige Pendley led Saint Mary with 25 points.
The Coyotes play No. 10-ranked Sterling at 6 p.m. Tuesday inside Mabee Arena in their final home and KCAC game before the holiday break. Sterling (9-1, 6-1 KCAC) outlasted Friends 54-52 Saturday in Sterling.