LANGSTON – The Chris Vincent era at Langston University got off to a roaring start as the Langston Lady Lions knocked off Wiley University 91-28 in the season opener on Thursday evening at C.F. Gayles Field House.
The Lady Lions jumped out to a 22-5 first quarter and never looked back as first-year head coach Chris Vincent picked up his first career victory as head coach.
"I've worked my entire career to one day be a head coach and it didn't really hit me until I get back to my office. In that moment you're just in there, coaching that game but I was just so proud of the way we came out opening night," Vincent said. "With a whole new group and everybody just putting their faith and trust into me and showing out in a great way was really the most important thing to me."
Langston displayed a stifling defense on Thursday, holding the Wildcats to only 15 percent (nine-of-57) from the field and didn't allow double-digit points in any quarter in the 91-28 victory.
Jordynn Conner led all scorers with 15 points, Mikayla Woods added 12 points and 12 boards and Jatalyah Williams chipped in 12. Nykale Cramer and Diamond Richardson also tallied double figures with 11 points apiece.
Collectively, Langston hit 43 percent (34-of-79) from the field, six-of-27 from three-point range and finished 17-of-24 from the free throw line.
"Jordynn (Conner) and Mikayla (Woods) are both special in their own ways, Mikayla's obviously been at the highest level, and she put 15 and six rebounds in Conference USA as a freshman so that's part of what she does, she has a real knack for the offensive boards and can score at a high volume," Vincent noted. "I've said this before in our preseason media day that Jordynn is one of the most athletic players in the entire country and I think tonight showed that she can impact the game right away, defensively, on the boards, getting to the rim, she really is a special player."
Langston (1-0) returns to action on Monday, October 28th versus William Baptist. Game time is set for 5 p.m. in Walnut Ridge, Ark.
