The Wichita State women's basketball team (0-1) led the Hofstra Pride (1-0) by one at halftime and rallied late, but could not overcome Vanessa Gidden's 22 point performance as the Shockers fell, 79-72, Friday evening in the first round of the 2006 Preseason WNIT in Charles Koch Arena.

With the win, Hofstra moves on to face nationally-ranked Baylor, in a second-round matchup on Sunday at the Ferrell Center in Waco, Texas. With the loss the Shockers moved to 0-2 all-time in Preseason WNIT action.

Kiki Stephens led the Shockers with 19 points, while Kyrie Kinder and Taylor Steven each chipped in 10. Freshman Jacie Hoyt registered five assists in her Shocker debut to lead the Shockers, while Stephens led the squad in rebounds with six.

Gidden led all players with her 22 points, while she was joined in double-figures by three other players, including Lizanne Murphy's 19 points, Lana Harshaw's 15 and Cigi McCollin's 17 points.

Both teams came out firing in the first half as the teams traded baskets in the early going in a quick paced game. Daria Frazier scored the first points for the Shockers in the 2006-07 season and the first basket of the game with a layin at the 19:39 mark to give WSU a 2-0 lead. Hofstra answered with three free throws to take its first lead of the game, 3-2, before opening up an 11-8 lead following a Jeanell Hughes layin with 14:19 left in the first frame.

WSU opened up the largest lead of the first half for either team when McDonnell connected on a pair of free throws to give the Shockers a 32-26 lead with 4:29 left until the half. WSU's six point lead quickly evaporated in the final minute as Hofstra reeled off a 5-0 run capped by two Gidden free throws with :08 seconds left in the half to close the Shocker lead to 38-37 at the break.

Hofstra opened up the second half with a 15-4 run that started with a three-point bucket by McCollin at the 19:10 mark. After two Hofstra layins, Stephens answered back with a two-point basket to end the Shockers drought with 17:18 left in the second half. Another Hofstra run, this time of the 8-2 variety, gave the Pride a 13-point lead with just under 13 minutes remaining.

The shockers clawed back with back-to-back-to-back layups by Wells, Kristen Donnell and Jaycie Hoyt to put the Shockers within eight, 59-51, with 9:08 left. WSU went on a 4-0 run to come within five points, 60-55, after a Stephens layin with 7:51 left. The Shockers continued to stay within 10 points until an 8-2 run with under a minute left closed the lead to just four points, after a Taylor Steven three-pointer. Hofstra connected on three of its final four free throws to close the game.

Wichita State returns to action on Mon., Nov. 20 at Arkansas, at 7 p.m.