Omaha, Neb. - A season-high 52 rebounds was not enough for
Wichita State as the Shockers lost at Creighton in overtime, 50-48, Saturday
night. The Shockers had the final possession
and missed a three-pointer at the buzzer.
Wichita State hauled in 20 offensive rebounds and forced 18
turnovers.
Neither team led by more than four points and the two traded
leads in the final minutes of regulation.
Jessica Diamond put the Shockers up 38-35 on a pull-up jumper with 4:10 remaining. Creighton freshman Carli Tritz then hit
lay-up followed by a jumper in the lane at the 1:36 mark to put the Blue Jays
ahead, 39-38.
Haleigh Lankster hit a free throw to tie with 29 seconds
left and added two more to put the Shockers on top 41-39 with 22 seconds
remaining. Tritz was fouled with 12
seconds in regulation and nailed both free throws to tie the score. The Shockers missed a running lay-up at the
buzzer, sending the game to overtime.
In the extra period, Creighton nursed a four-point lead
until a Diamond lay-up tied the score at 48.
However, Tritz drew a foul at mid-court with four seconds left and again
hit both free throws. Even with only
four seconds remaining, WSU was able to move the ball up the court where Lankster had a good look but missed a game-winning
three-pointer off the back of the rim.
BreAnna Dawkins led the team with 11 points and nine
boards. Chynna Turner added eight points
and seven rebounds, including a team-high four on the offensive glass.
Dawkins hit a running layup after an offensive rebound as
time expired in first half to tie the score at 18 heading into the halftime
break. Neither team shot well in the
first half with the Shockers connecting on just 24% of their shots and
Creighton 26%.
The Shockers remain in sixth place in the MVC standings with
a 4-5 mark. Creighton moved into a tie
for second at 7-2 and trail league-leading Northern Iowa by one game.
Wichita State returns home to face UNI Friday night with a
7:05 p.m. tipoff at Charles Koch
Arena.
NOTES: Chynna Turner scored her 400th career
point... She is third on WSU's active career scoring list... WSU's 52 total
rebounds and 20 offensive rebounds were the most allowed by Creighton this year...
The Blue Jays' 18 first half points matched their lowest total in any half this
season... The Shocker bench out-scored Creighton's 18-0... Jazimen Gordon failed to block a shot for the first
time in 13 games and Lankster failed to record a steal for the first time in 14
contests.
