Skip To Main Content

Wichita State Athletics

Events

Full Schedule

RH: Shockers Hit Best Start in Program History

RH Asia Strong

The RoundHouse | 12/1/2021 9:33:00 PM

Paul Suellentrop Byline 
 
Wichita State spent the off-season working on offense and coach Keitha Adams came to one conclusion. A record of 7-1 shows she is on the right track when the Shockers run the floor and play fast.
 
"We know we need to run and we need to go," Adams said. "We're more aggressive with that than we've been in the past."
 
On Wednesday, the Shockers defeated Oral Roberts 78-62 at Koch Arena to mark the best eight-game start in program history. Wichita State scored 50 points in the paint, 20 off ORU turnovers and 18 on fast breaks.
 
Those numbers are evidence of an improved offense, one that is going use it quickness and experience at guard and its speed bigs to put pressure on defense. Wichita State averages 73.8 points a game after averaging no more than 64 the past three seasons. While its shooting percentage of 41.7 isn't eye-popping, it is also an improvement over the previous three seasons.
 
Against ORU (2-5), the Shockers made nine of their first 11 shots in the lane and finished the game 25 of 48 from that area. They jumped to a 14-2 lead with Asia Strong scoring the first six points and Mariah McCully following with two layups.
 
"(Strong) set the tone for us early," Adams said.
 
While the Golden Eagles kept rallying, the Shockers never trailed and led by nine or more points the final six minutes. They committed 12 turnovers, one under the goal of 13.
 
 

"Our running game was there," McCully said. "I just figured I would run with the posts, because usually they posts are running. I just decided to run today, and I think I'm going to keep running."
 
McCully's cuts to the basket and layups got her in a rhythm early – she made six of her first nine shots, only from three-point range. That propelled her to a season-high 24 points on 11-of-19 shooting.
 
"We were really patient on offense when we needed to be," she said. "We pushed it when they weren't stopping us."
 
Strong added 16 points and 10 rebounds for her first double-double of the season. She was hungry for a redemption game after missing all eight shots and scoring two points in a 70-61 win over Northwestern State on Monday.
 
"Last game, I just brushed it off," she said. "I didn't want to keep thinking about it. I was kind of upset at how I performed, but I was thinking just bounce back this game, go hard, rebound, play defense."
 
Wichita State held ORU to 30.3 percent shooting and 3 of 11 from three-point range. The Shockers played behind the ORU post players and refused to leave open shooters.
 
"They're a team that's really capable of knocking them down," Adams said. "Traditionally, we front posts. Instead of giving up threes, we rolled the dice."
 
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.
 
 
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Mariah McCully

#2 Mariah McCully

G
5' 7"
Senior
Asia Strong

#00 Asia Strong

F
6' 2"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Mariah McCully

#2 Mariah McCully

5' 7"
Senior
G
Asia Strong

#00 Asia Strong

6' 2"
Senior
F