ORLANDO – Wichita State committed a season-high 31 turnovers and was outscored by 27 in the second half in a 60-35 loss at UCF Wednesday night in Addition Financial Arena.

Wichita State (12-12, 3-8) led by two points at halftime, but UCF did what it does best, play stifling defense and force turnovers. Wichita State remains winless all time vs. UCF, falling to 0-6.

Asia Strong was the lone Shocker in double figures with a team-high 12 points on 5-of-11 shooting. It marked her fourth straight game with 10 or more points. No other Shocker had more than five points in the game.

UCF (19-3, 11-1) shot 61.5 percent from the field after halftime and 52 percent for the game. They did that despite just 1-of-9 from beyond the arc. Wichita State attempted a season-low 36 field goal attempts, making just 12 for 33 percent.

The story of the first half was defense and turnovers. The two teams combined to make 13 field goals, but committed 27 turnovers. Wichita State was 7-for-21 from the floor with 13 turnovers, while holding UCF to 6-of-16 shooting and 14 turnovers.

Wichita State came into the game one of the top 15 teams in the country in rebounding, but were held to a season-low 20 rebounds and outrebounded by 10.

After trailing by five points early in the first quarter, Wichita State was able to hold UCF to just five points in the entire second quarter and scoreless for the final 3:41. That scoring drought sent the Shockers into the locker room with a 19-17 lead.

UCF's five second quarter points were the second fewest they had scored in any quarter this season.

Coming out to start the second half UCF scored six straight, forcing a Keitha Adams timeout just 1:32 into the third quarter. The Knights' defense was suffocating in the third quarter. Wichita State was just 2-of-10 from the field and went scoreless the final 1:47.

Offensively, UCF found its groove. They were 8-for-13 from the field and outscored Wichita State 21-6 to take a 38-25 lead into the final frame.

It didn't get any better in the fourth quarter, as UCF led by as many 27. The Knights outscored the Shockers by 14 in the final 10 minutes.

Up Next
The February road tour rolls on to Memphis this Saturday, Feb. 19 at 2 p.m.