Wichita State (7-2) vs. Grambling State (2-5)
Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021 | 2:00 PM CT | Charles Koch Arena
ESPN+ | ShockerStats.com

WICHITA, Kan. - After a week off, Wichita State returns home to face Grambling as part of a Shocker Basketball doubleheader on Saturday at 2 p.m. The Wichita State men's team follows with a matchup vs. Norfolk State at 6 p.m.

Shocker Doubleheader BOGO – Show your Men's Basketball vs. Norfolk State ticket and receive FREE admission.

ON THE AIR
Saturday's game will be televised on ESPN+ and the ESPN app. There will be no audio stream for Saturday's game.

LAST TIME OUT
Wichita State had its four-game win streak snapped at South Dakota, falling to the Coyotes by a score of 71-59. Despite outrebounding the Coyotes by 20, Wichita State was unable to offset a season-high 25 turnovers and 4-of-19 shooting from beyond the arc. Wichita State also had no answer for South Dakota's Hannah Sjerven who torched the Shockers for a season-high 35 points. Sjerven was 12-for-15 at the free throw by herself, while Wichita State was 11-for-13 as a team. Jane Asinde logged her fourth double-double of the season behind a season-high 20 points and 11 rebounds. She was 8-for-12 from the floor and also swiped three steals. Mariah McCully added 13 points, but was just 4-of-14 from the field. Seraphine Bastin chipped in nine points, nine rebounds and three steals.

SCOUTING THE TIGERS
THE SERIES VS. GRAMBLING STATE
Wichita State and Grambling State will meet for the fourth time in Saturday's matchup. The Shockers lead the series, 3-0, with all three games coming in Wichita. The first meeting between the two programs came back in November 2012, a 62-44 win for Wichita State.

LAST MEETING  
Wichita State and Grambling State met just barely over two years ago on Dec. 30, 2019 in Charles Koch Arena. The Shockers took command early, outscoring the Tigers, 25-5, in the first quarter and won 77-65. Mariah McCully scored a team-high 18 points to go with five steals. Carla Bremaud cashed in three 3-pointers to finish with 13 points and Maya Brewer added 11 off the bench. Wichita State forced 23 turnovers with 14 resulting in steals. The Shockers scored 30 points off those Grambling miscues. Wichita State also held Grambling to just 3-of-15 from beyond the arc.

HOT START
Wichita State opened the season winning seven of its first eight games (7-1), making it the best eight-game start in school history. The best 10-game start is 8-2 set four different times (1982-83, 1996-97, 1998-99 and 2013-14 teams). With a win vs. Grambling State, the 2021-22 Shockers can join the club at 8-2. The 2013-14 team holds the best non-conference record in program history at 9-2.

WANTED FOR THEFT
Wichita State senior guard Mariah McCully has been pest on defense for opposing offenses through nine games this season. McCully is riding a streak of five straight games with a steal and has swiped at least one in eight of the first nine games. She's had multiple in six of the nine. Her 20 steals easily lead the team and rank 67th nationally and third in the American Athletic Conference. Her 2.22 steals per game rank sixth in the conference. During her first season at Wichita State (2019-20), McCully had a career-long 19-game streak with a steal, including a career-high seven at Tulane on Feb. 16, 2020.

BIG GAME JANE
Since being inserted into the startling lineup vs. Prairie View A&M on Nov. 23, Jane Asinde has been a nightmare for opposing teams. She registered her first career double-double with a team-high 17 points and 11 rebounds, while also dishing out two assists against PVAMU. She has double-doubles in four of the last five games after dropping 14 points and 11 rebounds vs. Alcorn State, 10 points and 12 boards vs. Northwestern State and a season-high 20 points and 11 boards at South Dakota. Eight of her 12 rebounds vs. Northwestern State came on the offensive end, becoming the first Shocker since Rangie Bessard on March 11, 2017 to record eight offensive rebounds in a game. Over the last five games Asinde is averaging 13.8 points, 11.6 rebounds and shooting 54.2 percent from the field. Her four double-doubles this season rank 21st nationally and third in The American.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING      
Wichita State is ranked in the top 75 nationally in 10 categories after the first nine games. The Shockers rank No. 7 in rebounds per game (46.89), No. 8 in offensive rebounds per game (16.9), No. 10 in rebound margin (13.2), No. 14 in total rebounds (422), No. 26 in defensive rebounds per game (30.0), No. 34 in free throws made (125), No. 49 in field goal percentage defense (35.2), No. 56 in win-loss percentage (77.8), No. 59 in free throw attempts (167) and No. 70 in free throw percentage (74.9).

HOME COOKIN
Wichita State is 5-0 at home so far in 2021-22. The Shockers are outscoring their opponents by an average of 25.0 points and holding them to 28.8 percent shooting. Wichita State is pounding its foes on the glass, outrebounding them by 17.4 per game. Wichita State is one of the top rebounding teams in the nation to begin the season, and that is evident in the rebounding at home. The Shockers average 52.0 rebounds in home games compared to just 36.2 for their opponents.

GLASS CLEANERS
Wichita State is off to an impressive start rebounding the basketball through its first nine games. The Shockers have outrebounded all but one team and currently average 46.89 rebounds a game, which ranks seventh nationally. Their 422 total rebounds rank 14th in the NCAA. Wichita State ranks eighth in offensive rebound per game, 10th in rebound margin and 26th in defensive rebounds per game. As it stands now, Wichita State's 46.89 rebounds per game would rank third-most in school history. Four different Shockers pull down at least 6.0 boards per game, led by Jane Asinde at 9.3.

DYNAMIC POINT GUARD
• Wichita State point guard Seraphine Bastin had her best season in a Shocker uniform in 2020-21. Bastin averaged 10.2 points, 7.7 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.3 steals a game, while shooting 78.7 percent from the free throw line. The 5-foot-8 guard led the team in rebounding, assists, steals and double-doubles. In The American, Bastin ranked second in free throw percentage, third in assists, fourth in rebounding and fifth in assist-turnover ratio.

• She is off to another great start on the glass in 2021-22. Her 7.7 rebounds rank second on the team, and she's already had three games with 10 boards. In all but one game she's had five or more rebounds. Her season low is four.

• Bastin entered the Wichita State top 10 list for career assists on Nov. 26 vs. Alcorn State. She passed Allison Daniel who held the No. 10 spot with 308 career dimes. Bastin is already in the top 10 for career assists per game at 3.8. Her 3.8 helpers rank ninth best in school history.

• The Dinant, Belgium, native has a bulldog mentality and that is evident in her rebounding. Bastin led Wichita State and ranked sixth in the American Athletic Conference in rebounding at 7.7 per game and 131 total rebounds in 2020-21. Her 131 rebounds were 15 more than the next closest Shocker, which was Trajata Colbert with 116. Bastin has been one of the program's best rebounders since she arrived in 2018. She has 489 career rebounds, far and away the team's active leader. She has averaged 4.6 rebounds or more every season, including her career best 7.7 in 2020-21.

• With another season of eligibility remaining after the 2021-22 season, Bastin could find herself among the Shocker greats. She is on pace to finish her career with more than 1,000 points, 600 rebounds, 400 assists and 150 steals. Only one player in Wichita State history has accomplished that feat - Alex Harden. As it stands now, Bastin has 712 career points, 498 rebounds, 330 assists and 116 steals.

SHOCKERS PICKED EIGHTH IN PRESEASON POLL
Wichita State was picked to finish eighth in the American Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches Poll. The Shockers garnered 36 points from the league's coaches, just two points behind seventh-place East Carolina. The defending champions, South Florida, was picked to repeat after receiving 10 first place votes and 100 points. UCF (91), Houston (77), Tulane (72) and Temple (69) round out the top five.

A SHOCKER WIN WOULD...
... make them 8-2 on the season
... improve their record to 6-0 at home this season
... move them to 4-0 all-time vs. Grambling State
... bring Keitha Adams' record to 56-64 at Wichita State
... make Adams 340-273 at the Division I level
... run Adams' career coaching record to 467-310
... bring them to 383-242 all-time in Charles Koch Arena
... make Wichita State 626-712 all-time

A SHOCKER LOSS WOULD...
... make them 7-3 this the season
... drop them to 5-1 at home this season
... make them 3-1 all-time vs. Grambling State
... snap a three-game win streak vs. Grambling State
... bring Keitha Adams' record to 55-65 at Wichita State
... make Adams 339-274 at the Division I level
... lower Adams' career coaching record to 466-311
... drop their record to 382-243 in Charles Koch Arena
... make Wichita State 625-713 all-time

UP NEXT
Wichita State travels to the Lone Star State to face North Texas next Friday, Dec. 17 at 6:30 p.m.