WICHITA, Kan. - Wichita State has one final tune-up before the regular season tips off next week with an exhibition matchup against Missouri Southern State Tuesday, Nov. 1 at 6 p.m. in Charles Koch Arena.

ON THE AIR
Tuesday's game can be heard online at GoShockers.com/Listen with Steve Strain calling the action. Strain is in his ninth year as the voice of Shocker Women's Basketball.

EXHIBITIONS
For the fourth time in the last five years, Wichita State will host Missouri Southern for an exhibition contest. The Shockers defeated the Lions, 89-61 in 2021, 80-33 in 2019 and 62-49 in 2018. Wichita State is 5-0 in exhibition games under head coach Keitha Adams.

SCOUTING THE LIONS
Missouri Southern is coming off a 24-7 campaign in 2021-22, including a 19-3 mark in the MIAA. Missouri Southern saw its season come to an end in the quarterfinals of the NCAA DII Central Region Tournament with an overtime loss to St. Cloud State, 69-67. Missouri Southern returns leading scorer Lacy Stokes, who put up 19.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game as a freshman in 2021-22. Stokes was named the MIAA Player of the Year, MIAA Freshman of the Year and earned honorable mention All-America honors.

ADDED EXPERIENCE TO THE BENCH
Head coach Keitha Adams bolstered her coaching staff in the offseason with the hire of Jim Littell as an assistant coach. Littell spent the last 11 seasons as the head coach at Oklahoma State, and the six years prior to that as an associate head coach for the Cowgirls. He compiled a 204-140 record in his 11 seasons as head coach of the Cowgirls. Littell was a two-time Big 12 Coach of the Year (2016, 2021), while leading Oklahoma State to six NCAA Tournament appearances, a WNIT title and seven Cowgirls achieved All-America status under his guidance. Adams and Littell are no strangers, however. It was at Oxford High School where Adams and Littell first met. Adams was on the basketball team at Oxford where she played for Littell, and the two have maintained a close friendship throughout the years. Littell was the head coach at Oxford High School from 1978-83, before building a powerhouse at Seward County Community College from 1991-2004.

INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR
For the sixth season in a row, the Shocker basketball team will feature several players from international countries. The 2022-23 Shockers feature eight student-athletes from international countries, which is the most in school history. Jane Asinde (Kampala, Uganda), Carla Budane (Maputo, Mozambique), Nhug Bosch Duran (Barcelona, Spain) and Tatiana Platonova (Moscow, Russia) return after a season in the program. They are joined by newcomers: Daniela Abies (Málaga, Spain), Ambah Kowcun (Adelaide, Australia), Ornella Niankan (Montreal, Canada) and Raissa Nsabua (Ottawa, Canada). In the 12 seasons prior to Keitha Adams taking over the program, Wichita State had one international player (Marija Pacar). Under Adams, 20 international players have played for the Shockers in just six seasons, representing 13 different countries.

JANE'S DOUBLE-DOUBLES
Senior Jane Asinde led Wichita State with nine double-doubles last season. During the middle of non-conference play she posted four in five games, including three straight. She opened conference play with a 16-point, 16-rebound performance vs. Houston, and has since logged three more in league play. Most recently, Asinde logged an 11-point, 10-rebound effort in a near upset at South Florida on Feb. 22. As a team, Wichita State posted 11 double-doubles in 2021-22 with the next closest Shocker being Asia Strong with 2.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING      
Wichita State ranked in the top 100 nationally in 10 categories a season ago. The Shockers ranked No. 12 in total rebounds (1,223), No. 20 in offensive rebounds per game (15.1) and No. 20 in rebounds per game (42.17).

Up Next
Wichita State opens the regular season next Wednesday, Nov. 9 at 6 p.m. vs. Alcorn State right here in Charles Koch Arena.