The RoundHouse | 11/24/2018 9:41:00 PM

When Wichita State freshman Dawnyel Lair introduces herself, she tells you to call her "D."
 
That fits, especially now that Lair knows how to practice hard turn that effort into playing time.
 
Wichita State coach Keitha Adams envisions her as a disruptive defensive force and Lair, a 5-foot-8 guard from Los Angeles, is starting to fill that role. She gave the Shockers (5-1) an injection of defensive energy early in Saturday's 70-56 win over Louisiana Tech and helped close out the win with buckets at Koch Arena.
 
"She gave us a huge spark," Wichita State senior Sabrina Lozada-Cabbage said. "That's something we really needed, a defensive stopper, someone to get some steals, and she did just that."
 
Lair played 20 minutes, 17 seconds and scored 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting with five steals – all season highs. Lozada-Cabbage starred with 16 points, 16 rebounds and five assists. The Shockers held the Lady Techsters (4-2) to 27 points under their season average by holding them to 36.8-percent shooting, 16.7 from three-point range. Wichita State shot better than 50 percent from the field for a second consecutive game.
 
The Shockers celebrated a little more loudly than after previous wins, a reaction to the level of opponent and Wednesday's loss at South Dakota. Louisiana Tech owns wins over American Athletic Conference members Houston (100-88 in overtime) and Memphis (66-50).
 
"We wanted to redeem ourselves," Lozada-Cabbage said. "This game was a really big game for us. That's why we were so emotional – because we wanted it more."
 
Lair did her part to continue a fast rise up the depth chart. 
 
She didn't play in Wichita State's exhibition game on Nov. 1. She played sparingly in the first four games before scoring nine points and recording three steals in 13 minutes at South Dakota. On Saturday, she was so essential she played all but the final 14 seconds of the fourth quarter, exiting to hugs and high fives.
 
"She's been really great in practice the last two week," Adams said. "Her energy and effort in practice has been great. It's been a big adjustment coming here. . . and she's definitely turned some corners."
 
Lair turned her practice habits around after sitting through the entire exhibition game. She pegs her practice improvements to that time on the bench. She talked to her family members and talked to Adams and decided she needed to change. 
 
"That really got to me," Lair said. "I came here to play basketball and not playing basketball, that's hard. From that moment on, I said 'If I want to play, I'm going to go hard in practice.'"
 
Through November, Lair focused on using her physical gifts, hustling, defending and making sure coaches could tell she worked in practice.
 
"Sometimes I would come into the gym, and, you know, just wasn't feeling it that day," she said. "I signed up for this. I knew what I was getting into. Now it's time to do the work. I'm a very athletic, fast player. Coaches would be able to tell when I'm not putting my all into it. Now, I know I've got to go."
 
Lair contributed lots of go on Saturday. In the first half, she helped the Shockers expand their lead by bursting into passing lanes and disrupting Louisiana Tech's offense. Her steal and layup gave Wichita State a 28-17 lead. Another steal and basket made it 37-21. She helped Wichita State's effort guarding Kierra Anthony – who scored 50 points against Houston. Anthony scored 13 points on 6-of-17 shooting against the Shockers, 11 under her season average.
 
In the fourth quarter, Lair scored in the lane for a 66-56 lead and again to make it 70-56. After another steal – when she and Seraphine Bastin combined to create a turnover – she exited a few seconds later.
 
If Lair tired during the final 4:30 of the third and through the fourth, Adams didn't seem to care. With Bastin in foul trouble, she needed Lair on the court. 
 
"She thought she was (tired)," Adams said. "And then I dialed up a play for her and guess what happened. She scored. Motion 15."
 
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.