The RoundHouse | 11/19/2022 5:14:00 PM

 
 
Wichita State faced up to hard truths at halftime with a fact-based discussion. All the strategy, however, wouldn't matter much against a 17-point deficit without contributions from emotion and determination.
 
"We turned it up," Wichita State forward Shamaryah Duncan said. "We were not going to lose at all. No."
 
The Shockers trailed into the fourth quarter, steadily cutting into that deficit, before defeating North Texas 57-53 on Saturday at Koch Arena. Wichita State (3-1) outscored the Mean Green (1-2) 33-12 in the second half and ended the game on a 13-2 run over the final 7:28.
 
The 17-point comeback is the largest under coach Keitha Adams.
 
The key point of the halftime moves was a switch to "31" defense, a halfcourt zone trap. That defense, which featured forward Jane Asinde roaming near the top of the key, stopped North Texas' offensive flow by making almost every pass difficult. The Shockers held North Texas to 4-of-27 shooting in the second half and forced nine turnovers which led to 13 points.
 
"That really gave us energy on defense," Duncan said. "It pressures the ball. Makes us trap in the corners. We get steals and deflections."
 
Another key point at halftime – guard North Texas guard Quincy Noble. Noble scored 25 points on 10-of-15 shooting in the first half. In the second half, the Shockers limited her to 2-of-7 shooting and she finished with 30 points.
 
Wichita State recorded a season-high 12 steals, three by DJ McCarty and Trajata Colbert.
 
"That (defense) changed the tempo of the game," Adams said. "You can't just run and do what you want to do. We knew we had to do something to change the tempo."
 
Asinde's presence at the top of the zone made it difficult for the Mean Green to reverse the ball, which stagnated their offense. Once the Shockers got North Texas trapped on one side of the court, things got even more difficult. Noble, after enjoying open shots in the first half, usually found one or two Shockers obstructing her vision in the second half.
 
"Our defense helped us win a game today," Adams said. "You've got a lot of length there. You get those arms up and it's long and lanky."
 
The Mean Green, after leading 41-24 at halftime, made two shots and missed all nine of their three-pointers in the third quarter. Wichita State cut the lead to 48-42 with a 6-0 run to close the quarter.
 
In the fourth, North Texas committed six turnovers and missed 12 of 14 shots.
 
The Shockers tied it at 51 on a jumper by Curtessia Dean with 2:54 to play. A steal by Asinde led to a layup for McCarty and a 53-51 lead. McCarty's steal and basket put the Shockers up 55-51 with 1:38 remaining.
 
"It's a defense that we pressure the ball and make the offense work more," Asinde said. "They take faster shots. They take bad shots."
 
Wichita State's offense put all those possessions to good use and limited its own turnovers to produce a 33-point half. The Shockers made 48.1 percent of their shots and committed six turnovers.
 
Asinde led Wichita State with 13 points, 10 in the second half. Duncan scored all nine of her points in the second half.
 
Paul Suellentrop writes about Wichita State athletics for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.