Wichita State (8-2) vs. Southern (3-6)
Friday, Dec. 16, 2022 | 6:00 PM CT | Charles Koch Arena
ESPN+ | GoShockers.com/Listen | ShockerStats.com
 

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ON THE AIR
Friday's game can be heard online at GoShockers.com/Listen with Steve Strain calling the action. Strain is in his ninth season as the radio voice for Wichita State women's basketball. The game will also be televised on ESPN+ and the ESPN app.

LAST TIME OUT
Wichita State saw its seven-game win streak come to an end on Sunday at unbeaten Kansas, 72-52. The seven consecutive wins were the most since 2015 when the Shockers won 12 in a row. Wichita State shot a set season lows in points (52) and field goal percentage (32.4 percent), while also missing 9-of-12 attempts from beyond the arc and committing 19 turnovers. Kansas led by just eight at halftime, but pushed that margin to as many as 26 in the second half. Curtessia Dean recorded her second straight game in double figures with 12 points. Jane Asinde grabbed nine rebounds and blocked two shots, but finished with just three points.

SCOUTING THE JAGUARS
Led by fifth year head coach Carlos Funchess, Southern enters Friday's matchup at 3-6 this season. The Jaguars have already faced five Power 5 teams, which includes ranked teams: Iowa, Iowa State and Oregon. Eight players average more than 4.0 points per game and zero in double figures. Amani Mcwain scores team-high 9.8 points per game. As a team, Southern averages just 53.7 points on 35.9 percent shooting. The Jaguars are nearly shooting better from three-point range at 35.0 percent. Where they excel on the defensive end is forcing turnovers. Southern averages 10.9 steals and they turn their opponents over on average nearly 17 times a contest.

THE SERIES VS. SOUTHERN
Wichita State and Southern will square off for the third time in the last four years Friday night. The Shockers own a 2-0 advantage in the all-time series, but both games have been decided by a total of 10 points.

LAST MEETING
Wichita State held off a scrappy Southern squad on Dec. 4, 2020 in Charles Koch Arena, 57-53. Wichita State was outrebounded in the contest by seven, but held Southern to just 5-of-25 from beyond the arc and 31 percent overall. Seraphine Bastin and DJ McCarty both finished with a team-high 11 points in the defensive battle, while Asia Strong added 10.

JANE GOT GAME
Wichita State senior Jane Asinde has been unstoppable for the Shockers. The Uganda native has double-doubles in four of the eight games she's played in, including back-to-back 20-point double-doubles at the LMU Thanksgiving Classic. Asinde opened the LMU Thanksgiving Classic with a career-high 19 rebounds to go with 20 points against Montana and followed that with a career-high 22 points and 15 rebounds vs. Loyola Marymount. She has double digit rebounds in five of the eight games.

GETTING DEFENSIVE
Wichita State boasts a top 70 defense through the first 10 games of the season. They have held all but two opponents to less than 38 percent shooting, and only two teams have shot better than 30 percent from three-point range. Wichita State's field goal defense is holding teams to just 36.5 percent, good for 67th nationally. Opponents are connecting on only 27.8 percent of their attempts from long range.

GLASS CLEANERS      
Wichita State is one of the top rebounding teams in the country once again this season. Through 10 games Wichita State ranks 30thth nationally in rebound margin, 36th in defensive rebounds per game and 37th in total rebounds per game. The Shockers have outrebounded eight of their 10 opponents.

GO AHEAD CALL IT A COMEBACK
Wichita State has made a habit out of falling behind recently. The Shockers have trailed by double digits in three straight games and wound up winning them all: 17, North Texas (Nov. 19); 11, Montana (Nov. 25); 13, LMU (Nov. 26). In those three games Wichita State outscored its opponents 125-74 in the second half.

COLBERT CASHING IN      
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 eight games in 2022-23, she is 31-for-36 (86.1 percent). Colbert ranks second in the American in free throw percentage.

EXTRA TIME NEEDED
Wichita State needed overtime in two of its first five games of the season. The Shockers fell in overtime at Omaha on Nov. 12, but collected an overtime win vs. Montana on Nov. 25. Wichita State is 4-4 in overtime games under Keitha Adams. Wichita State is 21-24 all-time in overtime games.

BEST START IN SCHOOL HISTORY
Wichita State's 8-1 record to open the season marked the best start in program history. The Shockers got there behind a seven-game win streak. The seven-game win streak was the longest since 2015 when Wichita State won 12 in a row.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
Through 10 games Wichita State ranks in the top 70 nationally in the following categories: No. 30 in rebound margin (9.5), No. 36 in defensive rebounds per game (29.1), No. 37 in rebounds per game (42.8), No. 67 in field goal percentage defense (36.5) and No. 67 in fouls per game (15.1). Jane Asinde ranks 9th nationally in rebounds per game, No. 10 in defensive rebounds per game, 33rd in double-doubles and 48th in total rebounds.

WANTED FOR THEFT
Junior guard DJ McCarty has been a pest on defense for opposing offenses through 10 games. McCarty has recorded at least one steal in all 10 games, and has multiple in seven of the 10 games. Her 23 steals are the most on the team and she ranks fourth in the American Athletic Conference and 72nd nationally. Her 2.30 steals per game also rank fourth in the American.

A SHOCKER WIN WOULD...
... make them 9-2 on the season
... make them 5-0 at home this season
... move them to 3-0 all-time vs. Southern
... bring Keitha Adams' record to 71-80 at Wichita State
... make Adams 355-289 at the Division I level
... run Adams' career coaching record to 482-326
... make them 391-248 all-time in Charles Koch Arena
... make Wichita State 641-728 all-time

A SHOCKER LOSS WOULD...
... make them 8-3 this the season
... be their second straight loss
... drop them to 4-1 at home this season
... make them 2-1 all-time vs. Southern
... bring Keitha Adams' record to 70-81 at Wichita State
... make Adams 354-290 at the Division I level
... lower Adams' career coaching record to 481-327
... make them 390-249 all-time in Charles Koch Arena
... make Wichita State 640-729 all-time

UP NEXT
Wichita State has a date with the Wyoming Cowgirls prior to Christmas on Dec. 20 at 6 p.m.