The RoundHouse | 12/30/2022 9:22:00 PM
Wichita State showed its strategy on the first play and never deviated. The Shockers maneuvered to get center
Trajata Colbert open near the basket and it worked repeatedly.
"In the post, Jata can pretty much overpower anybody," guard
DJ McCarty said.
Colbert, a 6-foot-2 senior, overpowered Cincinnati in a 61-49 win at Koch Arena on Friday with a career-high 24 points. She did most of the damage by getting the ball in great position and going straight to the basket with no dribbles.
"She just plays so hard," coach
Keitha Adams said. "She's gained confidence in herself, and I think her teammates have gained confidence in her. We did a nice job of getting the ball into her."
Colbert made 9 of 16 shots, created three and-one opportunities and scored twice on offensive rebounds. Her six foul shots (in nine attempts) matched Cincinnati's total from the line.
The Shockers (11-3, 1-0 American Athletic Conference) defeated Cincinnati (7-7, 0-1) for the third straight time, although for the first time at home in four meetings. After the game, Adams led the team to the baseline seats to share a group hug with a loyal fan dealing with the death of his wife.
Cincinnati entered the game ranking second in blocked shots in the conference at 4.38 a game. That did not deter the Shockers, who went right at the Bearcats and created enough fouls to make that strategy pay.
"The last few games I was having trouble scoring around the basket," Colbert said. "(Coaches) told me earlier in the week to go strong to the basket."
Colbert's physical, efficient performance set the tone for the game. She scored the first basket on a high-low pass from
Jane Asinde. McCarty repeatedly found Colbert with lob passes, orchestrated by the Shockers clearing out the help defenders and Colbert sealing her defender off to open the passing angle.
"My job is to push the post up the lane so I'll have better positioning, Colbert said. "We kept going with what worked."
Colbert scored 18 of her 24 points in the second half. She scored six straight points to give the Shockers a 46-34 lead early in the fourth quarter. The Bearcats cut the lead to six points and Colbert responded with a three-point play with 3:36 to play.
McCarty finished with 15 points and five assists, three to Colbert.
"If I place it right, I know that Jata will go get it and she'll either get fouled or finish," McCarty said.
Wichita State, 1-0 in the American for the first time, won a physical game by outscoring the Bearcats by 11 points at the line and out-rebounding them 40-34. The Shockers totaled 34 points in the paint, 16 more than Cincinnati.
Asinde grabbed 15 rebounds, six on the offensive glass, and scored eight points.
Shamaryah Duncan added eight points. She hit both of Wichita State's three-pointers, one a game-clinching basket from the corner to extend the lead to 53-41 with 2:16 to play.
Wichita State held the Bearcats to 18-of-59 shooting. The Bearcats went 7 of 30 from the field in the second and third quarters, allowing the Shockers to build a 26-22 halftime lead and extend that to 37-32 entering the final period.
Paul Suellentrop writes about Wichita State athletics for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.
