By: Wichita State
Dallas, Texas -- The Wichita State University women's
basketball team overcame a 16-point deficit to defeat Southern Methodist, 61-59,
Saturday afternoon at Moody Coliseum.
The win put WSU (6-5) above .500 heading into the holiday break.
Michelle Price's running layup down the right side of the lane
broke a tie and put the Shockers on top with 10 seconds to play. SMU's Destiny Hives-McCray missed the front
end of a 1-and-1 free throw attempt with 3.5 seconds remaining and neither team
secured the rebound as time expired.
Moments earlier, Jessica Diamond buried a three-point basket
from the left wing with the shot clock running down that brought the Shockers
from a one-point deficit to a two-point lead, 59-57. That rally was part of the final seven minutes,
during which the lead changed 12 times.
Diamond paced the Shockers with 16 points on 7-of-15
shooting. Kelsey Jacobs added 12 points
and eight rebounds with a career-best four blocked shots. Chynna Turner hauled in 10 rebounds.
Keena Mays, a transfer from Kansas, topped SMU with 16
points and Akil Simpson chipped in with 13 points and 13 rebounds.
The Shockers trailed by as many as 16 points, with 1:30 left
in the first half, and were down by 13 at halftime, 31-18. Wichita State shot just 26.9% (7-26) in the
first half and turned the ball over 14 times.
In the second half, the Shockers had only five turnovers and connected
on 58.1% (18-31) from the floor.
Wichita State is on a three-game winning streak for the
first time this year and will next play host to Wisconsin-Green Bay on Sun.,
Dec. 30, at 1:05 p.m.