WICHITA, Kan. – The Wichita State women's basketball team started things off on the right foot Wednesday night in Charles Koch Arena, defeating Newman University, 58-49 in the first exhibition game of the 2016-17 season.
 
Rangie Bessard led the Shockers with 19 points and nine rebounds, while Keke Thompson contributed with nine points and three rebounds. Diamond Lockhart also added nine rebounds.
 
Newman was led by Hannah Alexander who had a game-high 23 points, while also pulling down nine rebounds.
 
A layup and an unconventional three-point play by Bessard helped the Shockers go on a 12-2 run in the fourth quarter to give WSU a 56-47 lead with 3:53 left in the game. Wichita State held the Jets scoreless for a span of 6:48 to win the game, 58-49.
 
Newman bounced back coming out of the locker room, scoring 23 points, while only allowing Wichita State to score 11 to fight back and take back the lead for the second time in the game.
 
To begin the third quarter, Newman quickly cut Wichita State's lead to four, before the Shockers called a timeout with 4:11 left in the quarter. With three minutes left in the third quarter, a layup by Newman's Sheanna James tied the game at 40.
 
Both teams scored one more time in the third quarter, with Newman taking a 43-42 lead into the fourth quarter.
 
Wichita State dominated the second quarter, outscoring the Jets, 19-6, while shooting 50 percent from the field.
 
Two free throws and a layup by Bessard finished gave WSU a 6-0 run by the Shockers to take their first lead of the game, 20-18, with 5:48 left to play in the first half. Jaleesa Chapel finished off the 8-0 run with a jumper to take a 22-18 lead.
 
A three-point basket by Tamara Lee and two free throws by Chapel and gave Wichita State its largest lead of the first half, 31-20.
 
Newman outshot the Shockers in the first quarter, shooting 40 percent from the field while WSU just shot 21 percent.
 
Early in the first quarter, Newman took a 6-2 lead, before a three-pointer by Kayla Williams cut the lead to one, 6-5. Newman extended its lead to 14-10 before a layup by Angiee Tompkins cut the lead to 14-12 at the end of the first quarter.
 
The Shockers will be in action again on Sunday, Nov. 6, as they host Cameron University in Wichita State's second exhibition game of the season at 2 p.m.