Wichita State women’s basketball erases 15-point deficit in win to snap losing skid
Double-digit comebacks are en vogue right now at Koch Arena.
Just four days about the men’s team registered its largest home comeback in program history, the Wichita State women’s basketball team pulled off one of its own in a 73-65 win over SMU on Wednesday.
The Shockers trailed by 15 points in the second quarter, but rallied behind four double-digit scorers to snap a four-game losing streak to improve their overall record to 12-7 and American Athletic Conference record to 2-4. SMU, picked to finish third in the conference in the preseason poll, dropped to 12-6 overall and 3-3 in conference play.
Shamaryah Duncan led WSU with a career-high 18 points on 6-fot-9 shooting, while Curtessia Dean was two points off her career-high with 16 points, six rebounds and four steals. Jane Asinde added 15 points, five rebounds, two blocks and three steals and point guard D.J. McCarty delivered 14 points, including four three-pointers, with five rebounds, five assists and three steals.
The quartet scored more than 86% of the team’s points and helped WSU rally after falling behind 38-23 with 3:42 left in the second quarter.
Following a timeout by head coach Keitha Adams, WSU closed the half with an 11-4 run. Dean drilled a three, then WSU followed with jumpers from Dean, Asinde and Duncan to whittle the halftime deficit down to 42-34.
It only took the Shockers a little more of eight minutes of game action to erase the 15-point deficit, as a jumper by Dean with 3:24 in the third quarter put WSU back on top, 49-48.
The Shockers were able to create separation early in the fourth quarter following a technical foul on SMU’s Savannah Wilkinson for taunting following a three-point play. Wilkinson’s free throw briefly put WSU ahead 57-56, but Nhug Bosch Duran made both of the technical free throws and then found McCarty for a three on the ensuing possession to cap a five-point trip for the Shockers and extend their lead to 61-57 with 6:41 to play. After a defensive stop, McCarty drilled another three and WSU went from down one to up 64-57 in less than a minute.
SMU cut the deficit to 66-63 and had a quality look at the rim to further cut into WSU’s lead, but missed and Asinde scored a lay-up of her own at the other end for a 68-63 lead with 2:18 remaining. SMU did not threaten again after that sequence.
Wichita State will wrap up a two-game homestand on Saturday when the Shockers host East Carolina at 2 p.m. at Koch Arena.
This story was originally published January 19, 2023 at 10:14 AM.
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