Shocker women open with Creighton

The Wichita State women’s basketball team begins the season on Sunday after two exhibition victories that were satisfying but not convincing.

The Shockers earned single-digit victories over NCAA Division II schools Newman and Cameron. They needed a last-second layup by Diamond Lockhart to defeat Cameron 67-65 last Sunday.

Creighton, which defeated WSU by 25 points last season, presents a next-level challenge. The Shockers, though, are eager after surviving adversity during the preseason that was reminiscent of the constant obstacles from last season.

“I would say to clean up the details,” WSU sophomore forward Rangie Bessard said. “At the end of the day, our season opener is on Sunday and we’re playing a great team, Creighton. It’s going to come down to the details. Which team has the best details, the best technique, the best tempo.

“On Sunday we want to be able to get out and get after it, and know at the end of the game that we gave it our all.”

WSU played its exhibition games without last season’s second-leading scorer, senior guard TaQuandra Mike, who missed the games due to injury.

Mike is slated to return against Creighton, and her absence pressed WSU’s other perimeter players, such as junior transfer Tamara Lee and junior Aundra Stovall into extended duty.

“Tay is more than a second-leading scorer,” WSU coach Jody Adams-Birch said. “She’s our moxie. She’s our bull. She’s going to bring that fire – ‘Jump on the bandwagon, we got this.’ She’s your confidence. That’s one thing we’ve realized in two games when we haven’t had her, that having her is going to add another mix of things.”

Mike’s return helps solidify depth within a backcourt that includes Lockhart along with newcomers Lee and point guard Keke Thompson, a junior-college transfer from Alabama.

But the Shockers lost guard Jaleesa Chapel for the season to a torn knee ligament. Chapel was WSU’s only four-year player and may apply for a medical redshirt.

“(Chapel) is a great-character young woman,” Adams-Birch said. “She’s been around this program for a long, long time and in some important ballgames. Her wisdom and her worth is very, very, very valuable. We will continue to look to her for her leadership and her words.”

WSU’s early injury problems, which include Jyar Francis missing several practices with a concussion sustained last month, are reminiscent of 2015-16. The Shockers used six healthy players during one November stretch and rarely had a full lineup.

“I think it builds confidence in the returning players, and (injuries) have also given minutes to our newcomers,” Adams-Birch said. “To get in and get in the mix and be in the game at critical situations. We’ve got a lot of film to look at and teaching points to take.”

Creighton lost its opener 63-56 at South Dakota State on Friday night. Freshman forward Jaylyn Agnew, an Andover graduate, had four points in 21 minutes off the bench.

This story was originally published November 12, 2016 at 5:01 PM with the headline "Shocker women open with Creighton."