By: Wichita State
Fri., Jan. 25, 2013
Wichita State (11-6, 5-0 MVC) at SIU (4-12, 1-4 MVC)7:05 p.m.
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Date: Jan. 25, 2013
Tipoff: 7:05 p.m. CST
Location: Carbondale, Ill.
Arena: SIU Arena
Radio: AM 1330 KNSS
Talent: Brian Petrotta
The Wichita State women's basketball team (11-6, 4-0 MVC) travels to Southern Illinois (4-12, 1-4 MVC) and Evansville (6-10, 4-1 MVC) for games Friday at 7:05 p.m. and Sunday at 1:05 p.m.
- WSU is coming off a 70-51 win over Drake. The Shockers shot .582 from the floor - the highest mark by an MVC team this year - and held the Bulldogs to .333 shooting with 23 turnovers.
- The Shockers did not trail at any point in the first three MVC games and in over 100 minutes (five games) in Valley competition, WSU has held the lead for all but 13 minutes and 52 seconds (over 86% of the conference season to this point). WSU hit its first eight shots at Bradley on Jan. 10, first six shots at UNI on Jan. 12, and first five shots vs. Drake on Jan. 21.
- WSU has held 10 of 17 teams to 51 points or less and is 7-3 in those games. Entering this weekend's games, the Shockers rank 23rd in the NCAA in scoring defense (52.2 ppg) and 53rd in turnover margin (+3.44).
- The Shockers' three-point defense has been especially stout. Only two teams (Wisconsin-Green Bay, Creighton) have made more than five three-point baskets in a game against WSU. Wichita State's .280 three-point perentage defense ranks first in the MVC and 93rd in the country.
- Wichita State's bench poured in 58 points in Dec. 15's win vs. UAPB. For the year, WSU's bench is out-scoring the opponent, 379-224.
- Head Coach Jody Adams owns 79 victories at Wichita State to pass Kathryn Bunnell (1978-83) for second on WSU's career wins list. She notched her 100th overall win as a head coach Jan. 10 at Bradley. Wichita State is 52-20 (.722) overall and 6-2 this year at home under Adams.
- Jessica Diamond became the fourth Shocker in history to reach 1,000 career points with 300 rebounds and 300 assists after dishing out three dimes on Nov. 24 vs. James Madison. Tonya Lane (1987-91), Kim Evans (1992-96), and Lateesha Hill (1996-00) are the others. Diamond is currently 10th on WSU's all-time scoring list with 1,295 points. She needs 71 more points to match former teammate Haleigh Lankster (2008-12) for ninth.
LAST TIME OUT
WSU gave up the first basket of the game to Drake then went on a 13-0 run and never looked back, besting the Bulldogs, 70-61. The Shockers shot .582 from the floor and held Drake to .333 shooting, while forcing 23 turnovers. WSU built a 44-29 lead at halftime behind 63.6% shooting.
SCOUTING SIU and EVANSVILLE
The Salukis will play their first game under interim head coach Adrianne Harlow. Former coach Missy Tiber resigned on Monday in the midst of a 4-12 season. Cartaesha Macklin leads SIU in scoring at 14.1 pppg and averages 6.1 FT attempts per game. Rishonda Napier scores 10.3 ppg.
Evansville has been the surprise team in the Valley. Picked last in the preseason poll, the Purple Aces have already doubled last season's MVC win total and their only loss is a 7-point defeat to Creighton. Mallory Ladd has provided a boost, averaging 15.1 points and 9.9 rebounds in seven games. She has hit 44-of-45 free throws (.978). Khristian Hart (13.6) and Samantha Heck (13.5) also average double figure scoring.
NOTES ON JODY ADAMS
- WSU is 53-20 (.726) overall and 7-2 this year at home under Adams
- On Dec. 7, passed Kathryn Bunnell (1978-83) for 2nd on the WSU all-time wins list. Linda Hargrove (1989-98) is 1st with 133 wins over 9 seasons.
- 79-67 in 5+ seasons at WSU and 103-74 overall (24-8 @ Murray St in 2007-08)
- WSU is 44-16 (7-0 this year) under Adams when out-rebounding the opponent.
- WSU is 44-5 (2-2 this year) under Adams when attempting more FTs than the opponent.
- Only WSU coach with a .500-or-better record in the MVC Tournament.
A GRAND CAREER
Senior Jessica Diamond joined the 1,000-point club in the regular season finale last year and now owns 1,295 career points to rank 10th at WSU. Haleigh Lankster (2008-2012) is 9th with 1,366.
SCOREBOARD
Jessica Diamond is the Shockers' leading scorer at 13.8 ppg and is the only WSU player averaging double figures. As a team, the Shockers are scoring 59.0 ppg and shooting .424 from the field. The Shockers have scored 60 or more points 10 times.
Defensively, WSU has held 10 opponents to 51 points or less and is keeping the other to side .370 shooting from the floor and .280 from three-point range.
--In 10 of WSU's 11 wins, the Shockers posted a higher shooting percentage than the opponent.
THE SIXTIES
This season the Shockers have held 10 opponents to 51 points or less and are 7-3 in those contests. The Shockers are 1-3 when the opponent score 63 or more. The Shockers held 19 opponents below 60 points last year and went 15-4 in those games.
FREE THINKING
WSU is 44-5 (2-2 this year) under Jody Adams when attempting more free throws than the opponent. The Shockers have been out-shot at the line in 11 of 16 games this year and 327-284 in overall attempts for the season. WSU is shooting .690 (196-284) from the line. Jessica Diamond leads the team at .875 (42-48) and has hit 24 in a row. She ranks 19th in the nation in free throw percentage.
D'ING UP AGAINST THE "3"
Last year, the Shockers boasted the top three-point defense in the MVC, and may be headed that way in 2012-13, keeping opponents to .280 shooting from downtown. WSU was 15-6 when holding the opponent below 30% shooting from beyond the arc and 11-0 when keeping them below 20% last year.
THE DISH
Jessica Diamond returns as WSU's top assist-maker from a year ago. In 3+ seasons she has 331 dimes against 288 turnovers. Diamond has 45 assists this year though Alex Harden leads the team with 56.
KNOCKING 'EM DOWN
Last season, Wichita State led the Valley and ranked 13th in the nation in field goal percentage at .443. WSU is shooting .424 overall in 16 games this year but connecting on .484 in MVC play.
TAKING CARE OF THE ROCK
In 15 games this year, the Shockers have forced 337 turnovers while committing just 276 (19.8-16.2). WSU is 9-3 when committing fewer turnovers and ranks 53rd in the NCAA in turnover margin (+3.44).
CHECKING THE CAREER LISTS
- Jessica Diamond has 331 career assists to rank 8th at WSU. Kim Evans is 7th with 346.
- Diamond has 89 career 3-pt field goals to rank 8th at WSU. Lexee McDonald (2005-07) is 7th with 90 and Shelley Crow (1986-90) is 6th with 98.
- Jazimen Gordon has 108 career blocked shots to rank 3rd on WSU's career list. Mary Kennedy (1980-83) is 2nd with 169.
- Gordon has 558 career rebounds to rank 18th. Beth Epp (1976-79) is 17th with 572 and Kim Evans (192-96) is 16th with 580.
WSU IN THE MVC
Last season the Shockers reached 12 conference wins for the third time in school history, giving WSU back-to-back double-digit win totals in conference play for the 2nd time (10 wins in 1998-99 & 14 wins in '99-'00). The Shockers have steadily improved in each of Jody Adams' seasons as head coach.
Year Record Place
2008-09 4-14 t-9th
2009-10 8-10 6th
2010-11 10-8 5th
2011-12 12-6 3rd
2012-13 5-0 1st
Wichita State was picked second in the MVC preseason poll, tying WSU's highest-ever selection with the 2006-07 team. The Shockers have met or exceeded its preseason prognostication in each of Jody Adams' four seasons.
ROAD WARRIORS
The Shockers had almost unprecedented success on the road last season and won nearly has many MVC road games last year (5) as in the previous eight years combined (6). WSU's best road record was a 9-7 mark that included a school-record 6 MVC road wins in 1999-2000.
Season Road Record MVC Wins
2003-04 1-10 0
2004-05 0-12 0
2005-06 2-9 1
2006-07 0-11 0
2007-08 0-12 0
2008-09 1-10 1
2009-10 2-10 1
2010-11 5-9 3
2011-12 7-7 5
2012-13 4-1 2
