The RoundHouse | 1/25/2022 8:41:00 PM

 
The third quarter started with an East Carolina turnover and a Wichita State score. Then another turnover and another Shockers basket.
 
Wichita State owned the third quarter, just like it planned, on its way to a 70-55 win over the Pirates on Tuesday at Koch Arena. The Shockers (11-7, 2-3 American Athletic Conference) outscored ECU 18-6 in the third, largely by forcing eight turnovers and holding the Pirates to 3-of-17 shooting.
 
"We came out in the third quarter and set the tone early," coach Keitha Adams said. "Good win. Much-needed win."
 
ECU (8-11, 1-5) never recovered from the first seven minutes after halftime. The Shockers started the second half in a 2-2-1 press that shook up the Pirates. Wichita State built an 11-point lead on a basket by Mariah McCully and ECU never got closer than nine points the rest of the game.
 
"We knew we had to keep our energy the same coming out in the third quarter," McCully said. "We like to get steals and run. Teams that press don't like to be pressed."
 
 

OH. MY.

Jane Asinde, ladies and gentlemen.#AirAsinde x @JaneAsinde pic.twitter.com/4lHqnmsv0k

— Wichita State Women's Basketball (@GoShockersWBB) January 26, 2022

For the game, Wichita State forced 21 turnovers and scored 24 points off those turnovers. It made 26 of 58 shots (45 percent), its best shooting performance in conference play. Those turnovers – and Wichita State's ability to work through ECU's traps – created a 40-16 edge in paint points.
 
"Love that," Adams said.
 
On Saturday, the Shockers led Tulane by one point at halftime. Tulane won the third period by 15 points on its way to a 67-52 win. Adams went with the press against ECU to push the Shockers into an aggressive tempo out of the locker room.
 
"We played with passion," forward Jane Asinde said.
 
Asinde scored a season-high 21 points, making 9 of 14 shots. McCully added 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting. She made 3 of 6 three-pointers to improve to 10 of 25 (40 percent) in conference games.
 
Asinde and McCully did a lot of the damage in the third quarter to build the lead.
 
McCully scored Wichita State's first two baskets to go up 32-29. Asinde recorded a three-point play and followed that with a steal and basket for a 37-31 lead. After D.J. McCarty missed a free throw, McCully grabbed the rebound and scored to make it 42-31.
 
The combination of a matchup zone defense and presses limited the Pirates to nine baskets in the second half and they committed 11 turnovers.
 
Asia Strong scored 10 second-half points for the Shockers to finish with 15 and eight rebounds.
 
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.