Wichita State women’s basketball wins road game with improbable, last-minute comeback
A 10-0 run in the final minute helped the Wichita State women’s basketball team escape with an improbable 67-64 road win over North Texas on Friday night in Denton.
The Shockers trailed by five points entering the final 60 seconds, but scored 10 straight points to stun the Mean Green (6-3), who figure to be Conference USA contenders this season.
Asia Strong, WSU’s star 6-foot-2 senior forward, powered the way for the Shockers with a monster double-double of a game-high 17 points and 15 rebounds, while D.J. McCarty (12 points) scored the go-ahead layup with 24 seconds remaining.
WSU (9-2) tied its best start in program history in nonconference play. The Shockers also won their third road game in nonconference play, which is more nonconference road wins than they had in the last seven seasons when they had a combined 2-17 record.
Now the Shockers have a chance to make an even bigger impression at home when they take on the Kansas Jayhawks in a 6 p.m. game Tuesday at Koch Arena with tickets starting at $8.
In the North Texas game, a 6-0 spurt by WSU early in the fourth quarter allowed the Shockers to take a 51-46 lead with 6:48 remaining. But North Texas answered right back with a 9-0 run of its own and held a 62-57 lead entering the final minute.
That’s when WSU went to work.
Strong scored inside to cut the deficit to three, then WSU came up with a stop and McCarty scored in transition to trim the deficit to 62-61 with 38 seconds left. The Shockers applied some pressure and forced a North Texas turnover, which led to another McCarty basket in transition for a 63-62 lead with 24 seconds left.
McCarty helped WSU win possession back again when she drew an offensive foul on North Texas, then Mariah McCully (12 points) made a pair of free throws. At the other end, McCully blocked North Texas’ attempt at a game-tying three and Jane Asinde collected the rebound and made two free throws to seal the victory.
WSU played without starting point guard Seraphine Bastin, who missed the game due to an ankle injury but hopes to play in Tuesday’s game against KU.
This story was originally published December 18, 2021 at 11:35 AM.
.jpg)