WICHITA -- The Wichita State women's basketball team defeated Division II Newman, 97-46, Sunday afternoon in its lone exhibition game of the season.

 

Sophomore Haleigh Lankster led all players with 23 points on the afternoon as all 10 Shockers scored to lead the offensive charge. Freshman Chynna Turner posted a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Morgan Boyd and Dannah Kemp each finished in double figures.

 

The Shockers opened the game on a furious 19-3 run that included three treys from sophomore Haleigh Lankster, as WSU made its first seven shots of the day, five of which came from beyond the arc.

 

Wichita State's defense was just as sound, limiting Newman to just 25-percent shooting over the first 10 minutes, while out-rebounding the Jets 10-4 early on. 

 

WSU extended the lead to 34-8 by the under-eight timeout following a fastbreak basket by Sheena Johnson, and the Shockers never looked back.  WSU extended the lead to as many as 33 down the stretch and finished the first with a 49-19 advantage.

 

The Shockers shot a scorching 51.4-percent from the field in the opening frame of the 2009-10 season, while limiting Newman to 27-percent from the floor. WSU's new-look long-range attack went 6-for-12 from the arc, three of which came from Lankster in the opening minutes. WSU managed 14 assists on 19 baskets, while forcing 19 Jets turnovers with eight steals.

 

The Shocks opened the second half on a 13-2 run, extending the lead to as many as 41 before Newman answered with a 7-1 run of its own to cut the WSU lead to 63-28 with 14:25 left to play.

 

WSU never allowed Newman to cut the lead to less than 35 the remainder of the afternoon.

 

Wichita State opens the regular season on the road at 3 p.m., CT, next Sunday at Colorado State.