The RoundHouse | 3/2/2022 9:36:00 PM

 

 
Asia Strong went to her routine in the most stressful of times.
 
Breathe. Remember what coach Keitha Adams preaches about patience at the foul line. Breathe.
 
"I was confident," she said. "I breathed. What Coach tells me all the time. Easy form. Game."
 
Strong's two free throws with 15 seconds to play lifted Wichita State over Tulane 84-83 in overtime on Wednesday at Koch Arena. The Shockers survived a Green Wave three-point attempt and an unobstructed layup that rolled off the rim in the final six seconds before they could celebrate on Senior Night.
 
"I was praying the whole game," Strong said. "I was singing it in my head. 'I believe that we will win. I believe that we will win.'"
 
The Shockers (14-15, 5-11 American Athletic Conference) snapped a three-game losing streak and ended a nine-game win streak by Tulane (20-8, 11-5). Strong scored a season-high 22 points and Mariah McCully added 19 and 10 assists. Carla Bremaud contributed a season-high 14 points, including a three-pointer that gave the Shockers an 80-79 lead in overtime.
 
It took all that and more to slip past Tulane, which enjoyed a 15-point edge at the foul line and blew its chances to win in overtime with a missed foul shot with nine seconds to play and a turnover near the basket with five seconds to play.
 
Those breaks have often seemed to go against the Shockers this season, especially in two frustrating losses to USF last week. On Wednesday, the Shockers hustled their way into breaks, such as a loose ball that McCully grabbed and passed to Trajata Colbert for a 73-71 lead.
 
"It felt like we got a couple of luck bounces that went our way," Adams said. "We played hard. Carla hitting those threes . . . that gave us some big confidence."
 
The losses to USF inspired fellow senior Seraphine Bastin to gather the Shockers and remind that their time together ends soon. The best way to finish is to keep playing like a team.
 
 

Too much space for @JanaeMccully

Give her 11 points in the half to lead all scorers. pic.twitter.com/qAchyPv7LZ

— Wichita State Women's Basketball (@GoShockersWBB) March 3, 2022

"We had some talks together," Bremaud said. "We need to enjoy the time we have left together as a team."
 
Bremaud made sure her final game in Koch Arena will be a good memory. She made 4 of 9 three-pointers. The last one came with the Shockers down 79-77. When her defender gave her space, she shot from the wing and yelled and pointed at her teammates on the bench when it swished through for a lead with 1:50 remaining.
 
"The girl was backing up on me," Bremaud said. "Let it fly."
 
A few seconds later, the Shockers celebrated with hugs and a choreographed slide across the court. Bremaud wore a French flag around her shoulders. Bastin wore the flag of Belgium. They celebrated with fellow seniors Strong and McCully. The Shockers watched the senior highlights and enjoyed their ovations surrounded by family and teammates.
 
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.