Shocker Radio Postgame: Hargrove | Bessard & Lozada-Cabbage

WICHITA, Kan. – Rangie Bessard hit a game-winning layup with four seconds remaining in the game, as the Wichita State women's basketball team defeated Evansville, 69-68, on Friday night inside Charles Koch Arena.

Bessard scored 26 points on 11-of-19 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds to lead the way for Wichita State. Keke Thompson, Angiee Tompkins and Tamara Lee each added eight points, as the Shockers shot 28-for-60 (.467) from the field.

The Shockers scored the first four points of the game on buckets by Bessard and Sabrina Lozada-Cabbage. Evansville then answered with an 8-0 run to take the lead, before a three by Mike cut the Wichita State deficit to one, 8-7, at the 5:18 mark in the first quarter. A Kayla Williams three at the 2:30 mark put the Shockers ahead, 14-13, for the first time since the opening minutes. Later, Thompson's runner in the lane with 34 seconds remaining in the quarter cut the visitor's lead to one again, but the Purple Aces connected on a three at the end of the quarter to stretch their lead to 21-17.

Three minutes into the second quarter, back-to-back field goals by Lee and Bessard gave Wichita State a 26-24 advantage. A Tompkins hook-shot in the lane followed by a Thompson left-elbow jumper stretched the Shocker lead to 30-26 midway through the second quarter. Tompkins stayed hot, connecting on back-to-back buckets - including a three-pointer - to give Wichita State 38-32 advantage at the 1:33 mark. Evansville scored five consecutive points to close the half and cut the Shocker lead to 38-37 at the break.



Bessard led Wichita State in the first 20 minutes, scoring 11 points, grabbing seven rebounds and blocking three shots. Tompkins added eight points and three rebounds as the Shockers shot 16-for-34 (.471) from the field, including 4-for-8 (.500) from three-point land.

Midway through the third quarter, a steal and layup by Lozada-Cabbage followed by a layup by Bessard gave the Shockers a one point advantage, 48-47. A Bessard layup off an assist from Lozada-Cabbage at the 3:50 mark pushed the Wichita State lead to 54-51. The Shockers would go into the fourth quarter leading by two, 56-54.

The teams traded baskets to begin the final quarter, and back-to-back field goals by Bessard kept the Shockers ahead by two, 60-58, and forced the visitors to take a timeout with 7:21 remaining in the game. Two minutes, later Aundra Stovall connected on a layup in transition, was fouled and completed the old-fashioned three-point play to stretch the Wichita State lead to 63-58. Evansville wouldn't go away, as a three by the Purple Aces put them within two at the 4:19 mark, 63-61.

Later, two free-throws by Evansville tied the game at 63, before Lee connected on 1-of-2 at the line the give Wichita State the lead again, 64-63. Down by one, with 13 seconds remaining in the game, Lee hit two clutch free-throws to put the Shockers ahead, 67-66, before the Aces scored on a out-of-bounds play to go back ahead by one with seven second remaining in the game. On the ensuing Wichita State play, TaQuandra Mike tossed it in to Lozada-Cabbage who dumped it off to Bessard on a backdoor cut for the game-winning layup to give the Shockers the victory, 69-68.

Wichita State will take on Southern Illinois on Sunday inside Charles Koch Arena. Tip is set for 2 p.m.

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