WICHITA, Kan.--A 9-0 run to open the second half powered the Shockers past the Applachian State Mountaineers, 63-46, in the first of a seven-game home stand.

Junior Marisah Henderson led the offensive force for the Shockers with 16 points and eight assists. Sophomore Val Siemens and senior Marcy Sudbeck also put up double-digits with 12 and 10 points, respectively. Sophomore Jadhon Kerr's career-high nine points rounded out the scoring leaders, and propelled Wichita State to a 48 percent second half shooting performance.

For the Mountaineers, senior Brittany Mixon led her team with 14 points while freshman Sade' Means trailed slightly with 13. No other Mountaineer would notch more than six against the Shockers in a game that proved both defense and turnover heavy.

A quick layup by Mixon kicked off the evening, but the Shockers answered with a 5-0 run to take the early lead, 5-2. Neither team shot less than 50 percent from the floor through the first media timeout, but strong defense from both sides would quickly decrease those numbers.

Exactly five minutes in, the Shockers  forced a shot clock violation on the Mountaineers and followed suit with a pair of steals. Nevertheless, a 9-8 deadlock in Wichita State's favor held for nearly four minutes before the Shocker shooters sparked. Henderson sunk a jumper to pave the way for a Jacie Hoyt steal on the Mountaineers' inbounds pass. Hoyt converted the steal into a layup and the Shockers jumped ahead, 13-8.

Fouls became the enemy for Appalachian State midway through the first half. With more than 10 minutes until the break, the Shockers already had the benefit of the bonus. The Shockers made the most of it, using trips to the line to extend their lead, 16-9. Unfortunately for the home team, foul trouble put its leading scorer, Sudbeck, on the bench for a large chunk of the first half.

A 4-0 Mountaineer run tightened the game, but a new enemy emerged for both teams. Turnovers. The teams had already combined for 20 with more than seven minutes to play. By halftime, the teams accumulated 31 turnovers, the advantage clearly going to Wichita State with only 11. The teams would finish the night with 57 total.

Four-straight points from Henderson and a layup from senior Daria Frazier highlighted an 8-0 run, and opened the Shocks' largest lead of the evening thus far, 24-15. Appalachian State responded by converting a Shocker turnover into a layup, but was unable to close the gap. Wichita State took a 30-21 lead into the break.

The Shockers came out firing to open the final half. A 9-0 run highlighted by a Siemens three?the first of the game for either team?gave the Shocks a 39-21 lead less than 90 seconds into the half. The Shockers also had no trouble feeling the positive effects of Sudbeck's return to the game. The senior added two buckets and grabbed three rebounds in the first three minutes, helping the Shockers to double the Mountaineers' score, 42-21.

From there, the Mountaineers struggled to keep the deficit manageable. The Shockers took advantage of turnovers while shooting nearly 50 percent from the floor with less than 10 minutes to play. Means continued to lead her team, her back-to-back baskets narrowed the gap, 53-39. Mixon added four consecutive points down the stretch, pulling the Mountaineers within 13 with two minutes on the clock.

The scrappy effort could not hold off the Shockers.  A late three from Henderson sealed an already done deal for the Shockers, 63-46.

The Shockers play host again this Saturday to Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Tip off is scheduled for 2:05 p.m.

-Wichita State-