By: Wichita State
Wichita, Kan. -- Wichita State junior Heather Robben paced the Shockers with 23 points in
an 88-68 season-opening exhibition win against Central Oklahoma Sunday at
Charles Koch Arena.
The
Hutchinson Community College transfer, who celebrated her 21st birthday
Sunday, posted 20 of her points in the second half.
Wichita
State shot 55.2 percent in the game, and 50 percent from behind the three-point
line, as junior Haleigh Lankster (16 points), junior Alicia Sanchez (15 points)
and senior Morgan Boyd (12 points) also finished with double-digit point totals
in front of a crowd of 1,451. Sophomore Jessica Diamond had 12 assists.
Senior
Ashley Beckley led Central Oklahoma with 19 points and Britney Morgan added 14
points for the Division II Bronchos, who outrebounded the Shockers, 37-32.
The
Shockers improved to 3-0 in exhibition games under head coach Jody Adams, who
is in her third season at Wichita State.
Wichita
State jumped out to an early 11-4 lead off a 3-pointer from Boyd
in the opening minutes. Boyd connected on her second 3-pointer in as many tries
to boost the Shockers to a 14-6 lead.
Central
Oklahoma cut the Shockers' lead to three points with a three-point play from Morgan with 12:41 left in the first half. A fast-break layup from
Courtney Allen brought Central Oklahoma to within one point with 10:15
remaining in the first half, 14-13.
Wichita
State answered with back-to-back field goals from Sanchez at the
midway point of the first half to extend back out to a 19-13 lead.
Six-straight
points from Central Oklahoma tied the game, 19-19, with 6:09 left in the half, but
the Shockers quickly answered with a 3-pointer from Robben to
regain the lead. A jumper from Diamond, another 3-pointer from Boyd and
free throw from Michelle Price gave Wichita State a 28-23 lead.
The
Shockers led Central Oklahoma, 33-29, at halftime, paced by Boyd's 12 points as
she finished the half a perfect 4-for-4 from behind the 3-point line. Sanchez
added seven points and a team-leading four rebounds.
Beckley led Central Oklahoma with 12 points and six rebounds in the first half.
Robben
opened the second half with a three-point play for the Shockers to give Wichita
State a seven-point lead. She added a jumper soon after. An offensive rebound and follow-up layup for Lankster
gave Wichita State a 41-34 edge.
Sanchez
scored eight consecutive points for the Shockers to boost Wichita State to a
51-42 lead. Back-to-back buckets from Robben, including a 3-pointer, gave the
Shockers a 56-44 edge.
Another
3-pointer from Robben with 7:34 remaining gave Wichita State a 13-point lead.
The
Shockers continued to build on their lead down the stretch, and Robben's
three-pointer in the closing seconds gave Wichita State a 20-point lead.
The
Shockers open the regular season with a 7:05 p.m. game Friday against Arizona
at Charles Koch Arena.
- Wichita State -