WICHITA, Kan. - Wichita State opens the 2020-21 season with a Black Friday home opener against Texas A&M Corpus Christi - the first ever meeting between the two programs.

ON THE AIR
Friday's game can be heard online at GoShockers.com/Listen with the voice of Shocker Women's Basketball Steve Strain calling the action. Strain is in his seventh season broadcasting games for the women's program. The game will also be televised on ESPN+ with Shane Dennis and Tracy Anderson on the call. 

THE AMERICAN ON ESPN+ 
The American Athletic Conference is in its first season of a new TV deal that will see a majority of Wichita State's games televised on ESPN+. Fans can find more information and how to subscribe to ESPN+ here.

MARIAH MCBUCKETS 
Senior Mariah McCully finished her junior campaign on a scoring tear. She scored 10 or more in 18 of the last 22 games, including two 20-point outings. She had a 17-game double-digit scoring streak before it was snapped at Tulsa on Feb. 23 when she finished with nine points. McCully's 19 games of 10 or more points last season ranked first on the team and she was Wichita State's leading scorer on the year at 12.9 per game. The Shockers had three 20-point outings last season, two of which belonged to McCully.

SCOUTING THE ISLANDERS
Texas A&M Corpus Christi is coming off its best season in school history. The Islanders finished the regular season with a 23-7 overall record and a program-best 17-3 mark in Southland Conference play. The Islanders claimed their first regular season conference title in program history and earned the No. 1 seed in the Southland Conference Tournament. Head Coach Royce Chadwick was named the Conference Coach of the Year and senior forward Alexes Bryant was named the Defensive Player of the Year. The 2020-21 season will see a whole new team, however. Texas A&M Corpus Christi must replace its entire starting lineup and top four scorers. The Islanders had a stout defense in 2019-20, ranking 18th nationally in scoring defense (55.6 ppg) and 29th in blocked shots per game (4.8).

HOME OPENERS
Wichita State opens its home slate vs. Texas A&M Corpus Christi for the 2020-21 season on Nov. 27. The Shockers are 29-17 all-time in home openers.

A SHOCKER WIN WOULD...
... make them 1-0 on the season
... move them to 2-1 all-time vs. Alcorn State
... be their second straight win against the Lady Braves
... run Adams' career coaching record to 454-296
... make Adams 327-259 at the Division I level
... make Wichita State 375-236 all-time in Charles Koch Arena
... make Wichita State 613-698 all-time

A SHOCKER LOSS WOULD...
... make them 0-1 to start the season
... drop them to 1-2 all-time against Alcorn State
... lower Adams' career coaching record to 453-297
... make Adams 326-260 at the Division I level
... make Wichita State 374-237 all-time in Charles Koch Arena
... make Wichita State 612-699 all-time

MCCULLY LANDS ON PRESEASON SECOND TEAM    
Wichita State senior guard Mariah McCully became the first Shocker to collect preseason accolades for Wichita State since joining the American Athletic Conference when she was placed on the Preseason All-Conference Second Team by the league's coaches. McCully earned All-Conference Third Team honors after leading Wichita State in scoring (12.6 ppg) and steals (56) as a junior in 2019-20.

SHOCKERS PICKED 6TH IN PRESEASON POLL
Wichita State was picked to finish 6th in the American Athletic Conference by the league's coaches. It is the highest preseason pick for the Shockers since joining The American.
WSU returns 65.0 percent of its scoring from a season ago, including All-Conference Second Team selection Mariah McCully.

BREMAUD ON THE CAREER CHARTS      
Wichita State junior guard Carla Bremaud comes into the 2020-21 season already in the top 10 for three-pointers attempted in a career at Wichita State. Her 280 three-point attempts place her in 10th and needing just seven more to pass Lexee McDonnell for ninth in school history. Bremaud also needs only four made three-pointers to enter the top 10 in that category. Her fourth made triple will surpass McDonnell for 10th.

THE SERIES VS. TEXAS A&M CORPUS CHRISTI
Wichita State and Texas A&M Corpus Christi have never met on the hardwood prior to Friday's meeting. Wichita State's first-ever matchup against the Islanders will be in Charles Koch Arena.

WICHITA STATE-A&M CORPUS CHRISTI CONNECTIONS
Texas A&M Corpus Christi Coordinator of Creative Services Blake Stoppel is in his second season with the Islanders' athletic department. Prior to joining A&M Corpus Christi, Stoppel spent a year with the Wichita State women's basketball program as a graduate assistant.

UP NEXT
Wichita State wraps up the November portion of the schedule with a matchup against Alcorn State on Monday, Nov. 30 at 6 p.m.