High-scoring WSU women roll past Newman

Being only Chynna Turner's second minute on the floor, of course the Wichita State freshman expected to make the play.

Few in the 1,411 in attendance at Koch Arena on Sunday afternoon could have thought the same as Turner, charging down the court in transition, tried to corrall the lead pass from Dannah Kemp.

And while the pass was a bit long, Turner showed off a soft pair of hands and some athleticism to finish the play, part of her impressive 17-point, 10-rebound performance in the Shockers' 97-46 exhibition win over Newman.

Wichita State opens the regular season with a road trip to Colorado State next Sunday.

"Great hands," coach Jody Adams said of Turner. "Makes great decisions. Great passer. And then she has the ability to step out and she has the ability to run the floor. And when Chynna disciplines herself, then she'll be able to go four minutes strong."

Four minutes strong — it's becoming a popular phrase among the team.

Armed with depth on the bench, something that was missing last season, Adams expects maximum effort when the Shockers hit the floor.

"And then when you're all out of gas, someone else is there to sub in and put the same pressure and keep the same intensity," said forward Morgan Boyd, who scored 12 points in 12 minutes. "It's like a circle, it just keeps going."

Wichita State showed off better accuracy on long range shots, making its first seven shots — five three-pointers and two jumpers — for a 19-3 lead five minutes in.

Haleigh Lankster, one of three returners from last season, unveiled a smoother shooting stroke. The sophomore was 8-of-12 from the field — including five threes — to lead WSU with 23 points.

"Marisah (Henderson) and Jessy (Diamond) found me at the right times," Lankster said. "I think a lot of it came from me getting the ball and then getting set and locking and loading off their great passes."

Henderson finished with eight assists.

"Our defense is what's going to ignite our offense," Henderson said. "It's really going to start with our rebounds and our ball pressure and then we can get out to our transition game and run and go get easy baskets."

NEWMAN: Nachbor 2-6 0-0 4, Forshee 1-3 0-0 2, Meli. Brockleman 1-3 2-2 4, Freeman 2-5 0-2 5, Nickel 4-14 0-0 10, Meadows 0-1 0-0 0, Mela. Brockleman 0-5 3-4 3, Pachta 0-0 0-0 0, Norwood 1-2 2-4 4, Pitts 0-3 7-8 7, Traylor 0-0 0-0 0, Leinberger 1-4 3-6 5, Teeter 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 13-49 17-26 46.

WICHITA STATE: Gladden 1-2 0-0 2, Lankster 8-12 2-2 23, Turner 8-10 1-2 17, Henderson 1-2 1-4 3, Johnson 4-6 1-2 9, Boyd 5-7 0-0 12, Diamond 3-12 0-0 6, Kemp 4-10 3-4 13, Price 1-7 4-6 6, Gordon 2-7 2-4 6. Totals 37-75 14-24 97.

Halftime—Wichita St. 49, Newman 19. Three-point shooting—Newman 3-7 (Nickel 2-4, Freeman 1-2, Meadows 0-1), Wichita St. 9-19 (Lankster 5-7, Boyd 2-2, Kemp 2-7, Diamond 0-3). Rebounds— Newman 37 (Pitts, Teeter 7), Wichita St. 49 (Turner 10). Assists—Newman 5 (Five tied at 1), Wichita St. 28 (Henderson, Diamond 8). Fouls—Newman 20, Wichita St. 19. A—1,411.