The RoundHouse | 12/16/2019 4:40:00 PM
Good point guards want to see their teammates see the ball go through the net.
Vendela Danielsson entered Monday's game without a basket in her short Wichita State career.
Ashley Reid took intentional steps to get Danielsson, a junior transfer who missed much of the early season while recovering from a concussion, her shots. Danielsson entered Monday's 100-50 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Koch Arena with two missed shots in two games. She played almost 19 minutes and made 3 of 7 three-pointers to score 10 points.
"That helps confidence a lot," Reid said. "Every time she was open, I looked for her."
The Shockers (6-4) entered the season determined to play faster and score more points than last season and teamwork such as Reid's is helping. Monday's trip to the century mark proved a fitting example of how they are reaching those goals, not always as smoothly as coach
Keitha Adams wants, but often enough to show what's possible.
Adams gives the Shockers a B-minus at the 10-game mark. Wins over Oklahoma and at Louisiana Tech highlight the work so far. Three of their four losses are to teams in the top 50 of the NCAA's RPI rankings – No. 5 Missouri State, No. 6 Creighton and No. 50 Northern Iowa.
"We've showed signs that we can be pretty good," Adams said. "I think we've got a chance to make some noise, but we've got find a way to bring it for 40 minutes."
The Shockers scored 100 points for the first time since 1999 by shooting 50 percent from the field, outscoring UAPB by 21 points at the line and forcing 27 turnovers by the Lady Lions (0-8). Reid led Wichita State with a career-high 17 points and a career-high seven assists.
Mariah McCully also scored 17 points and
Maya Brewer added a career-high 16 points.
Wichita State topped out at 76 points last season, in its opening game against UAPB. It topped 70 four more times, only once after January. This season's team passed 80 for the third time on Monday and there are many reasons for the bump.
Adams said her team has taken around 97,000 shots since August on the shooting gun. Additions such as McCully and freshman guard
DJ McCarty helped the offense. Returners improved. Depth helps, as Monday's game showed. McCarty is out indefinitely with an ankle injury, giving more playing time to Reid.
"Last year, we had a freshman team," sophomore center
Asia Henderson said. "At the beginning of the season, we set goals. Fast breaks. Scoring. Twenty-plus wins and post-season play. We're trying to reach those goals."
The Shockers are scoring 68.4 points a game, up from 56.9 in 2019. Their shooting percentage is up to 41 percent from 38.8. They are shooting 29.5 percent from three-point range, up slightly. Their foul shooting accuracy is up to 68.3 percent from 63.1.
"We need everybody to step up, chip in," Adams said. "This is a puzzle that you put together. When all the pieces fit in and everybody steps up and does their job, it's pretty amazing group."
The Shockers scored 35 points on fast breaks and 33 off turnovers on Monday. They've outscored nine of their 10 opponents off turnovers and are recording 10 steals a game. Those opportunities push the offense.
"This year, we get a lot of fast breaks," Reid said. "We're getting get good steals, we're playing good defense and that helps us score a lot."
The Shockers leave on Tuesday for Puerto Rico, so early they talked about staying up all night before heading to the flight. They play Montana State on Friday and Virginia Tech on Saturday. American Athletic Conference play begins in January.
For that B-minus grade to rise, the Shockers know their homework.
They led Creighton 37-35 early in the fourth quarter before the Bluejays finished the game on a 21-7 run. They trailed Northern Iowa by three entering the fourth quarter and were outscored 19-11. Missouri State turned a five-point lead into a 68-55 win in the fourth quarter.
"We've got to learn how to finish games," Reid said. "We'll come out in the game starting really good. A lot of times, we'll fall off in the second half."
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.
