WICHITA, Kan. - Wichita State heads west for a pre-Christmas tournament, the Duel in the Desert Dec. 19-20. The Shockers open vs. Northwestern on Wednesday, Dec. 19 and conclude play on Dec. 20 vs. Kansas or Washington State.

Duel in the Desert - Wichita State is one of eight teams to participate in the 2018 Duel in the Desert, Dec. 19-21 at UNLV's Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas. The Shockers will join Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Northwestern, Utah, Washington State and host-school UNLV. The field will be split into two divisions of four teams, the Rebel Division and Desert Division, and each division will crown a champion. The Desert Division features Kansas, Northwestern, Washington State and Wichita State.

New Tip Times
This season the Shockers will tip 30 minutes earlier on weeknights and select weekend games. Contests will now start at 6:30 p.m. instead of 7 p.m. like in seasons past.

On The Air
Wednesday's game can be heard on the radio through KNSS 98.7 FM/1330 AM with the voice of Shocker Women's Basketball Steve Strain calling the action. Strain begins his fifth season broadcasting games for the women's program. The game can be seen through FloHoops with a paid subscription.
 

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Win No. 300
Wichita State head coach Keitha Adams collected her 300th career win at the Division I level in the Shockers' overtime win vs. Missouri State on Nov. 10. She compiled 284 wins in her 16 seasons at UTEP and has accumulated 18 in her first two seasons at Wichita State. She has a career record of 304-230.

Grambling State Review
WSU snapped a three-game losing streak with a 70-61 win over Grambling State on Tuesday in the annual kids day game. Shyia Smith led WSU in scoring (15 points) for the second straight game, while Carla Bremaud and Jaida Hampton (new season high) added 14 points apiece. Raven Prince scored eight of her 10 points before halftime. The Shockers set season highs in free throws made (24) and attempted (30) on the afternoon.

Youngsters
Wichita State's roster consists of eight true freshmen, one redshirt freshman, one sophomore, two juniors, one redshirt junior and two seniors. All told, the average age of the 2018-19 Shockers is just 19.2 years, making them the fifth youngest team in the country.

1. SMU - 19.0
    UMBC - 19.0
3. Oklahoma - 19.1
    Georgia Tech - 19.1
5. Wichita State - 19.2
6. Northern Kentucky - 19.3
7. Georgia Southern - 19.33
    Old Dominion - 19.33
9. Florida State - 19.4
10. Duke - 19.43
11. Alabama - 19.46
12. FAU - 19.5
 

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The Series vs. Northwestern
Wichita State and Northwestern have never met on the hardwood in women's hoops. Wednesday's matchup will mark the first-ever meeting.

Scouting the Wildcats
Northwestern is 5-3 to open the 2018-19 campaign after wins against Green Bay (57-55), Duke (84-58), UIC (87-44), Florida (83-74 OT) and UT-Martin (90-64) and lossses to Pittsburgh (49-52), DePaul (60-76) and Marquette (57-76). Lindsey Pulliam leads four Wildcats in double-figures at 15.5 points per game, while Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah averages a double-double with 11.8 points and 12.0 rebounds. Kunaiyi-Akpanah ranks sixth nationally in offensive rebounds per game (5.0), 11th in double-doubles (6) and 14th in rebounds (12.0).

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4-0 Start
The Shockers opened the season 4-0 for the first time since 1996-97. Wichita State defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff (76-39), Missouri State (63-60), Sam Houston State (63-55) and Houston Baptist (68-50) while holding those four opponents to a combined 29.5 percent shooting from the field. The defense has been even better guarding the three-point line. Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Missouri State, Sam Houston State and Houston Baptist combined to shoot 18-for-80 from beyond the arc, good for an 22.5 percent clip.

Welcome Back Cez
Senior guard Cesaria Ambrosio made her season debut Saturday, Dec. 8 vs. Creighton after missing the first eight games of the season due to a back injury. The Fully, Switzerland, native finished with five points and three assists in 21 minutes off the bench.

Not So Shy
Freshman forward Shyia Smith has been key spark plug off the bench in Wichita State's last two games. The Idabel, Okla., native scored 32 points over the two contests, including a career high 17 on 7-of-10 shooting vs. Creighton on Dec. 8. She followed that performance with a 15-point, 8-rebound outing in the Shockers' win vs. Grambling State on Dec. 11. Prior to her last two games, Smith had scored a total of 26 points on the season (8 games) and hadn't tallied more than seven points in a game.

Faye's Day
Sophomore forward Alyssia Faye received her first career start Saturday, Dec. 8 vs. Creighton and the Valence, France, native had her best game as a Shocker. Faye set career highs in points (15), rebounds (9), field goals made (6) and attempted (8) and three-pointers made (3) and attempted (4). Prior to the game, Faye had never reached double-figures in her WSU career (38 games).

Home Sweet Home
Wichita State will play 18 games in front of its home crowd in 2018-19, marking the most home games in a single season. The Shockers have never played more than 17 games in a season on their own floor. Wichita State played 17 home contests in both 2008-09 and 2006-07 seasons.

Up Next
Wichita State returns to Charles Koch Arena after a 10-day Christmas break for a Sunday afternoon matchup against Savannah State on Dec. 30 at 2 p.m. The contest will be the Shockers' final non-conference game of the 2018-19 campaign.