Wichita State women wallop Drake, grab MVC lead
As the opening act in a big weekend of basketball at Koch Arena, Wichita State’s women flourished under the spotlight on Friday.
The Shockers seized sole possession of first place in the Missouri Valley Conference race, belting Drake 80-59 to avenge their only conference loss.
Senior Alex Harden led five WSU players in double figures with 23 points as the Shockers (23-4, 14-1 MVC) moved one game ahead of Drake (18-8, 13-2) with three regular-season games remaining.
“It was an exciting game, a fun game to watch,” WSU coach Jody Adams said. “We put the pedal to the medal for 40 minutes and our players did not let up.”
With WSU’s men and women both trying to move atop their respective standings with home games this weekend, Adams’ team unveiled a brilliant blueprint. Jamillah Bonner added 16 points and Jaleesa Chapel had a career-high 12 as the Shockers reached the 80-point mark for the third time this season.
Harden, who moved within 56 points of WSU career scoring leader Allison Daniel’s total of 1,638, ignited a 15-2 run at the end of the first half that gave the Shockers control. WSU, which entered the game No. 2 in the NCAA allowing an average of 49.9 points, forced 22 turnovers and disrupted Drake’s offense throughout.
Harden put WSU ahead for good at 27-25, blocking a three-point attempt by MVC scoring leader Lizzy Wendell, snagging the ball and turning it into a three-point play. Harden teamed with senior Kelsey Jacobs to limit Wendell to 11 points on 3-of-14 shooting – 12 points below Wendell’s season average.
Wichita State led 39-27 at halftime.
“She was a Bugatti tonight that ran in seventh gear and not first,” Adams said of Harden. “We like her with that type of motor instead of maybe a small Chevrolet.”
The Shockers’ defensive motor purred on Friday. After falling 64-61 to Drake on Feb. 1 in Des Moines despite forcing 26 turnovers, WSU made the Bulldogs pay for their mistakes in the rematch. The Shockers scored 27 points off turnovers.
“I think we did a good job of pressuring them and not just pseudo-pressure,” said Jacobs, who scored 10 points to go along with four blocks and four steals. “It was staying in the stance and staying in front, and that’s what bugs them.”
The Shockers threw the knockout punch with a 7-0 surge midway through the second half for a 57-34 lead. Harden scored on a bank shot off a deflected pass, Bonner added a three-point play off a turnover, then Harden scored again on driving layup.
“We were just going to keep the pressure up and capitalize on it,” said Harden, who overcame an 0-for-4 shooting start and had 19 points by halftime. “There were a lot of turnovers at Drake that we didn’t get points off of. That was the biggest difference between tonight and the last game against them.”
Now, WSU sits in the driver’s seat for a third consecutive regular-season conference title. The Shockers conclude the home portion of their schedule against Northern Iowa on Sunday.
“It’s just huge for us,” Adams said. “This game was a measuring stick for me, for our staff and for this team.
“We’re not just a great defensive team, but a great offensive team when they’re moving the ball and finding their shots. As long as we continue to stay focused and continue to do what we want to do, I think it’s the first team that I’ve had here at Wichita State that I feel is prepared for an NCAA race.”
DRAKE (18-8): Wendell 3-14 5-6 11, Heap 0-2 0-0 0, Jonas 4-10 2-3 10, Dean 8-14 3-4 23, Ingle 2-4 4-4 8, Grenfell 1-4 0-0 2, Greiner 0-1 0-0 0, Rush 0-2 3-4 3, Lutes 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 19-53 17-21 59.
WICHITA ST. (23-4): Jacobs 5-11 0-0 10, Decker 2-4 2-2 7, B Jacobs 5-11 0-0 10, Decker 2-4 2-2 7, Mi. Dapprich 4-8 1-2 10, Bonner 5-13 5-7 16, Harden 10-21 3-3 23, Stovall 0-1 0-0 0, Martin 0-0 0-0 0, Chapel 3-5 6-7 12, Mo. Dapprich 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 30-64 17-21 80.
Halftime – WSU 39, Drake 27. Three-point shooting – Drake 4-16 (Dean 4-7, Heap 0-1, Greiner 0-1, Lutes 0-1, Wendell 0-4), WSU 3-16 (Decker 1-3, Mi. Dapprich 1-4, Bonner 1-4, Jacobs 0-2, Harden 0-3). Rebounds – Drake 37 (Jonas 13), WSU 36 (Mi. Dapprich 7). Assists – Drake 10 (Ingle 3), WSU 17 (Harden 8). Fouls – Drake 21, WSU 18. Fouled out – Ingle, Mi. Dapprich. A – 2,854.
This story was originally published February 27, 2015 at 11:08 PM with the headline "Wichita State women wallop Drake, grab MVC lead."