Wichita State women’s basketball senior forward Maimouna Sissoko (24) gets blocked in the paint by two Cal State Bakersfield players on Nov. 22. Maimouna ended the game with two blocked shots and seven rebounds.
After putting up 100 points last season against Cal State Bakersfield, Wichita State’s women’s basketball team put up a little more than half of that in a 60-55 loss to the Roadrunners Saturday afternoon in Koch Arena.
The Shockers (1-5) dropped their fifth-straight game with the loss, while CSUB (2-4) won its second in a row.
Despite making a late-game comeback, Wichita State never led in the second half but had multiple chances to tie or take the lead.
“We’re getting shots that we want at crucial points in time,” WSU coach Terry Nooner said. “They’re in the charge circle, they’re in the paint, it’s a wide open three, whatever it might be. We got to step up and finish those shots that we will finish at any other point during the game.”
Three changes were made to Wichita State’s starting lineup, as graduate forward Sophie Benharouga, junior forward Jaida McDonald and graduate guard Diamond Richardson all made their first starts this season.
“It was about how practices was going,” Nooner said. “I think that was the biggest key — that group has been playing well in practice.”
The Roadrunners were called for an administrative technical foul before the game started because they did not turn in a starting lineup on time. The Shockers started the game with technical free throws by graduate guard Jaila Harding, who made one of the two untimed shots.
A three by Harding later in the first quarter gave Wichita State an 8-6 lead. CSUB then used a 9-0 run to take back and expand its lead to seven points. The Roadrunners made a layup in the closing seconds of the first quarter to give them a 10-point advantage at the end of the quarter, 24-14.
Early in the second quarter, the Shockers drew three fouls, which led to a layup by senior forward Maimouna Sissoko. Wichita State stayed aggressive on the offensive end, later getting into the bonus with 2:15 remaining in the half.
After making only three total free throws last game, the Shockers made 11 in the first half. They ended the game shooting 21-for-28 at the stripe.
“It was just more about making a concerted effort to drive,” Nooner said. “Play with a lot more force, attack the basket with force, get the ball to the paint with a lot more force.”
The Shockers trailed by 13 at the end of the half, 41-29, but high-intensity defense and offense allowed them to cut into the deficit in the third quarter. Wichita State made eight untimed shots throughout the period and trailed by three points at the end of it, 47-44.
“I think it’s just us playing with a lot more force,” Nooner said about the team’s second-half defense. “I think we were a lot more aggressive. We challenged them at the half to be a lot more aggressive.”
CSUB started the scoring in the fourth quarter. Another Roadrunners technical foul sent Harding on the line again, where she made one to cut Wichita State’s deficit to two points, 49-47.
Down by four points with less than a minute-and-a-half left in regulation, Sissoko was called for traveling, much to the Shockers’ dismay.
Graduate guard Abby Cater later made a bucket and proceeded to convert the and-one free throw to make it a one-point game, 56-55.
The Roadrunners followed up with a quick basket and Cater turned the ball over on the next possession.
After the Shockers called their final timeout, Harding got a good look from three, but missed with five seconds left in the game.
Next up, the Shockers will travel to California to play in the ZotGiving Classic. The Shockers will play UC Irvine on Friday at 4 p.m. and Idaho on Saturday at 4 p.m.
Box score breakdown
WSU — 14; 15; 15; 11 — 55
CSUB — 24; 18; 5; 13 — 60
Shooting totals (fg-3p-ft)
WSU (34.8% – 15.4% – 75%)
CSUB (40.7% – 31.6% – 40%)
Leaders
Points — WSU: Abby Cater (11), Jaila Harding (8), Kyleigh Ortiz (7). CSUB: Chrishawn Coleman (16), Morgan Hawkins (12), Marley Langi (10).
Rebounds — WSU: Maimouna Sissoko (7), Abby Cater (5), Jaida McDonald (5). CSUB: Tena Ikidi (8), Zalissa Finley (7), Morgan Hawkins (4).
Assists — WSU: Jaida McDonald (2), Jaila Harding (2). CSUB: Chrishawn Coleman (3), Morgan Hawkins (2), Maria Dias (2), Aliyah Carter (2).
