WICHITA – Despite being down two starters, Wichita State slammed the door on Saint Louis, beating the Billikens 78-59 Friday evening in Charles Koch Arena.
 
"We wanted to get back to our identity, which has been a great defensive team that's disruptive and plays hard," head coach Terry Nooner said. "We scrapped and fought, and we're excited about the win. We're excited about the rebounding, and [Tre'Zure Jobe and Jeniah Thompson] were special tonight."
 
Four Shockers finished in double figures as Jobe led the scoring with a Division I career-high 24 points, Salese Blow put up 17 points, and Daniela Abies and Ornella Niankan scored 14 and 12 points, respectively.
 
Thompson started her first game of the season and second of her Shocker career, contributing a career-high 15 rebounds and a career-high tying 5 assists.
 
Wichita State (4-4) won the battle of the boards for just the third time this season, out-rebounding Saint Louis (4-4), 53-37, a key for the Shockers as they have not won a game in which they were out-rebounded this year.
 
The Shockers tied their season high in assists with 15 and recorded their second-highest three-point and free-throw percentages of the year at 50% and 71.8%, respectively.
 
Jobe hit a three within the first 10 seconds of the game, setting the tone on offense as the Shockers outscored the Billikens 22-9 in the first quarter after going on a 12-0 run to end the quarter.
 
Jobe shot 3-for-4 from three after going 0-for-6 against Southeastern Louisiana, and the Shockers improved their three-point percentage from the previous game by 44.4%.
 
Wichita State went into halftime with a 14-point lead, and the Billikens tried to chip away at it in the third quarter, but the Shockers came back and scored 27 points in the fourth quarter to seal the deal.
 
The Shockers continue their four-game stretch in Charkes Koch Arena, taking on Houston Christian Monday, Dec. 4 at 6 p.m.