Wichita State (12-7, 2-4) vs. East Carolina (13-6, 4-2)
Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023 | 2:00 PM CT | Charles Koch Arena
ESPN+ | GoShockers.com/Listen | ShockerStats.com

ON THE AIR
Saturday'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 snapped a four-game losing streak with a 73-65 win over SMU on Wednesday in Charles Koch Arena. Wichita State overcame a 15-point first half deficit to secure its second conference win of the season. Shamaryah Duncan scored a career-high 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting and 5-of-6 from the free throw line. Curtessia Dean snapped out of funk to the tune of 16 points, six rebounds and a season-high four steals. Jane Asinde added 15 points, five rebounds, three steals and two blocks. DJ McCarty went 4-of-6 from downtown to add 14 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals. The quartet of Duncan, Dean, Asinde and McCarty combined for 63 of Wichita State's 73 points.

SCOUTING THE PIRATES
Led by fourth year head coach Kim McNeill, East Carolina enters Saturday's matchup at 13-6 this season and 4-2 in American play. East Carolina boasts the league's top defense where its opponents are only averaging 53.2 points per game. The Pirates create havoc in the way of forcing turnovers. Their opponents are averaging 26.5 turnovers a game with nearly 14 of those ending up in steals. ECU ranks second nationally in turnovers forced per game, fourth in steals per game and turnover margin. Danae McNeal leads ECU in scoring (16.2 ppg) and steals (58) to go with 3.1 rebounds and 32 assists. McNeal is 8th nationally in total steals. Amiya Joyner pulls down a team-best 7.5 rebounds to go with 9.2 points.

THE SERIES VS. EAST CAROLINA
Wichita State and East Carolina have met eight times prior to Saturday's showdown with the series being tied at 4-4. ECU won the first two meetings only to see Wichita State take the next three. The two teams split the season series a year ago behind East Carolina's overtime win in Greenville in February.

LAST MEETING
Wichita State dropped the return matchup with East Carolina last season on Feb. 9, 2022. The Pirates needed overtime to defeat the Shockers in Greenville, 61-59. Wichita State held ECU to just 31.7 percent shooting and 5-of-20 from beyond the arc, but its own struggles on the offensive end saw them come up short. Wichita State shot only 30.6 percent overall to go with 19 turnovers. Asia Strong scored a team-high 15 points and Nhug Bosch Duran added 12. Seraphine Bastin pulled down 10 rebounds and dished 6 assists off the bench.

GETTING DEFENSIVE
Wichita State boasts a top 70 defense through the first 19 games of the season. They have held all but seven opponents to less than 38 percent shooting, and only five teams have shot better than 32 percent from three-point range. Wichita State's field goal defense is holding teams to just 37.0 percent, good for 54th nationally. Opponents are connecting on only 28.6 percent of their attempts from long range. Wichita State has held eight opponents under 60 points, including three under 50.

TALENTED TRIO
Jane Asinde, DJ McCarty and Trajata Colbert are forming a potent trio for the Shockers. All three are averaging double figures on the season and combine for 35.2 points per game on the offensive end. On the glass, they combine to pull down 21.6 rebounds a game. On the defensive end, the trio makes up 62.3 percent (91 steals) of the team's steals this season and 57.6 percent (34 blocks) of the team's blocks.

SEEING DOUBLE
Wichita State senior Jane Asinde is averaging a double-double through 19 games this season at 11.5 points and 10.5 rebounds. The Uganda native is on pace to finish the season with a top 10 single season rebounding mark. Her current 10.5 boards per game would rank as the 8th most in school history. She is also trying to become the first Shocker to average a double-double over the course of a season since Antionette Wells during the 2006-07 season when she posted 13.0 points and 10.4 rebounds.

WANTED FOR THEFT
Junior guard DJ McCarty and senior forward Jane Asinde have been a pest on defense for opposing offenses through 19 games. McCarty has recorded at least one steal in all but three games, and has multiple in 11 of the 19 games. Her 40 steals are the most on the team. Asinde is second on the team with 36 steals and averages 2.12 steals a game and has multiple steals in 10 games this season. They rank 3rd and 6th, respectively, in the American in steals.

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 19 games in 2022-23, she is 55-for-68 (80.9 percent). Colbert ranks third in the American in free throw percentage.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
Through 19 games Wichita State ranks in the top 70 nationally in the following categories: No. 35 in rebound margin (7.5), No. 52 in rebounds per game (40.74), No. 54 in field goal percentage defense (37.0), No. 58 in fouls per game (14.9) and No. 64 in defensive rebounds per game (27.5). Jane Asinde ranks 15th nationally in rebounds per game, No. 18 in total rebounds and No. 26 in defensive rebounds per game.

A SHOCKER WIN WOULD...
... make them 13-7 on the season
... make them 3-4 in conference play
... make them 9-2 at home this season
... move them to 5-4 all-time vs. East Carolina
... bring Keitha Adams' record to 75-85 at Wichita State
... make Adams 359-294 at the Division I level
... run Adams' career coaching record to 486-331
... make them 395-250 all-time in Charles Koch Arena
... make Wichita State 645-733 all-time

A SHOCKER LOSS WOULD...
... make them 12-8 this the season
... make them 2-5 in conference play
... drop them to 8-3 at home this season
... make them 4-5 all-time vs. East Carolina
... bring Keitha Adams' record to 74-86 at Wichita State
... make Adams 358-295 at the Division I level
... lower Adams' career coaching record to 485-332
... make them 394-251 all-time in Charles Koch Arena
... make Wichita State 644-734 all-time

UP NEXT
Wichita State has the week off before traveling to Cincinnati to face the Bearcats for a second time this season on Jan. 28.