WICHITA - Dominating defense combined with sophomore guard Haleigh Lankster's hot hand propelled the Shockers to a home-opening victory against the Western Illinois Fighting Leathernecks on Friday night, 70-45.

Lankster scored a career-high 19 points, including 14 in the second half to lead all scorers. Morgan Boyd, Jessica Diamond and Chynna Turner each chipped in 10 points to put four Shockers in double digits against the Leathernecks.

In the first half , the Shockers fell behind briefly, but less than three minutes into the game WSU took the lead and never returned it. Thanks in large part to Lankster's 8-for-14 shooting performance.

Lankster lit up the floor early nabbing an early jumper to close the gap, 6-5. The basket sparked an 13-0 run, in which Lankster and junior Dannah Kemp drained threes to help their team build the 18-6 lead.

Kemp knocked down another to stretch the lead, 21-8. Meanwhile, the Shockers displayed their defensive prowess as well. Midway through the first half, WSU had forced six turnovers, cashing them in for eight points. They would finish with an overwhelming 34 points off of 27 turnovers.

Diamond also found her groove as her back-to-back jumper and layup gave the Shockers a commanding, 27-12 lead. Diamond would finish the first with eight points and a pair of steals.

A 10-point first half effort from WIU guard Erica Lewis put the Leathernecks back within single digits, but Kemp buried her third three of the half to end the first in the Shockers' favor, 35-23.

Lankster again provided the spark to start the second half, rattling off seven points before the first media timeout. Her layup and one pushed the Shockers forward, 44-25. On fire, the sophomore hustled for two more of the same to hand the Shocks a commanding 24-point lead.  

Using an impressive 57 percent shooting accuracy mark and an 18-5 run, the Shockers strolled out to a 53-28 lead nearly midway through the second half.

Although the Leathernecks put together a pair of runs to dip the deficit under 20, the Shocker offense wouldn't quit. WIU slightly shortened the Shocker lead, 56-37, but seven straight points, including a three ball from senior Marisah Henderson, put the Shockers out of reach.

The Shockers are in action against on Monday night when they play host to La Salle at Charles Koch Arena. Game time is set for 7:05 p.m.