Wichita State (1-1) at Oral Roberts (0-3)
Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022 | 7:00 PM CT | Mabee Center
KFH 97.5 FM/1240 AM | ORUAthletics.com
 

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ON THE AIR
Wednesday's game can be heard on the radio at KFH 97.5 FM/1240 AM with Steve Strain calling the action. Strain is in his ninth season as the radio voice for Wichita State women's basketball. There will be a video stream available at ORUAthletics.com.

LAST TIME OUT
Wichita State dropped its first road game of the season, an overtime battle at Omaha, 72-67, last Saturday. Wichita State outrebounded the Mavericks by 15, but committed 21 turnovers leading to 20 points on the other end for Omaha. Wichita State droped to 3-4 in overtime contests under Keitha Adams. Shamaryah Duncan scored 13 of her career-high 17 points in the second half and overtime, while going a perfect 3-of-3 from beyond the arc. Trajata Colbert was 7-for-11 from the floor to finish with 17 points. Curtessia Dean scored 11 of her 13 points after halftime. DJ McCarty grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds to go with seven points and six assists.

SCOUTING THE GOLDEN EAGLES
Oral Roberts is 0-3 to open the 2022-23 campaign, having played a tough schedule with all three on the road. ORU's three losses have come to No. 15 Oklahoma (105-94), UNLV (100-84) and Oklahoma State (103-66). The Golden Eagles have allowed all three of their opponents to score 100 or more points and are allowing 50.2 percent shooting. Offensively, Oral Roberts doesn't have any trouble putting points on the board as they average 81.3 points led by five players in double figures. Hannah Cooper paces ORU at 22.7 points to go with 5.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists. Tirzah Moore averages a double-double with 12.0 points and 11.0 rebounds.

THE SERIES VS. ORAL ROBERTS
Wichita State and Oral Roberts have met 22 times dating all the way back to Dec. 3, 1977. The two programs are familiar foes but haven't met regularly since the early 2000s. Wednesday's matchup will be the 11th meeting in Tulsa. Wichita State hasn't had much luck in Tulsa vs. the Golden Eagles, dropping eight of the 10 meetings. Wichita State will be seeking its first win at ORU since 1999.

LAST MEETING
Wichita State and Oral Roberts met last season in Wichita, a game the Shockers won 78-62 on Dec. 1. Wichita State held Oral Roberts to just 30 percent shooting and outrebounded the Golden Eagles by eight. Mariah McCully dropped a game-high 24 points on 11-of-19 shooting to go with three steals. Asia Strong recorded a double-double of 16 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks. Seraphine Bastin added 16 points and seven boards and Jane Asinde chipped in 13 rebounds to go with eight points.

CAREER AFTERNOONS AT OMAHA
Despite the loss at Omaha on Nov. 12, Wichita State had two individuals record new career highs. Shamaryah Duncan scored 13 of her career-high 17 points after halftime behind a perfect night from three-point range. Duncan was 3-for-3 and was the only Shocker to connect a triple in the contest. DJ McCarty pulled down a career-high 11 rebounds and also dished out a career-high tying six assists.

CAREER CHARTS
Wichita State senior Trajata Colbert enters the season on the career charts at Wichita State for field goal percentage. Her career field goal percentage of 50.7 ranks 10th and sits behind Theresa Dreiling's 51.8 percent in ninth. Colbert also needs 19 blocked shots this season to crack the top 10 list at Wichita State. She enters with 72 career blocks and 10th place is currently 91.

COLBERT CASHING IN      
Senior Trajata Colbert has improved dramatically the last two years at the free throw line. The Georgia native began her career shooting 42.1 percent as a freshman, 61.1 percent as a sophomore and 50.9 percent as a COVID sophomore. In 2021-22 she shot a career-high 76.0 percent and so far through two games in 2022-23, she is a perfect 10-for-10.

OVERTIME AT OMAHA
Wichita State went to overtime at Omaha on Nov. 12, marking the seventh time under head coach Keitha Adams the Shockers have played an OT contest. Wichita State is 3-4 in those games. Wichita State is 20-24 all-time in overtime games.

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. Associate Head Coach Ewa Laskowska leads the charge in international recruiting thanks to Stalowa Wola, Poland, being her hometown.

A SHOCKER WIN WOULD...
... make them 2-1 on the season
... make them 1-1 on the road this season
... move them to 11-12 all-time vs. Oral Roberts
... be just their third-ever win in Tulsa vs. ORU
... bring Keitha Adams' record to 64-79 at Wichita State
... make Adams 348-288 at the Division I level
... run Adams' career coaching record to 475-325
... make Wichita State 634-727 all-time

A SHOCKER LOSS WOULD...
... make them 1-2 this the season
... drop them to 0-2 on the road this season
... make them 10-13 all-time vs. Oral Roberts
... bring Keitha Adams' record to 63-80 at Wichita State
... make Adams 348-289 at the Division I level
... lower Adams' career coaching record to 474-326
... make Wichita State 633-728 all-time

UP NEXT
Wichita State is back in Charles Koch Arena on Saturday vs. North Texas at 2 p.m.