The RoundHouse | 2/25/2023 5:19:00 PM
By Paul Suellentrop
Curtessia Dean woke up Saturday morning determined to make it a good day. She meditated to calm herself before her final regular-season home game and set out to turn that feeling into something real.
"I said 'This is my last year of college and you've got to go out with a bang," she said. "I was ready."
Ready for a big bang.
Dean scored a career-high 22 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in Wichita State's 79-67 win over Temple at Koch Arena. She scored Wichita State's first five points. In the third quarter, she scored eight straight points – six on and-one plays - to grab all the momentum.
"It was awesome to watch," center
Trajata Colbert said. "The energy definitely shifted. We were more intense. After those two (and ones), I thought a lot of our shots were going in."
Dean, who played one season for the Shockers after transferring from Seton Hall, took the team's victory lap around the floor at Koch Arena, slapping hands with fans, trading hugs and posing for pictures.
She was ready for that, as well. Dean and Colbert, Wichita State's two seniors, received their framed jerseys and video tribute after the game.
"These are great people," Dean said. "They made it feel like home, the fans. This was the greatest atmosphere I've been in."
The fans responded to an impressive second half the by the Shockers (16-12, 6-9 American Athletic Conference). They hit 11 of 16 shots and 7 of 8 free throws in the third quarter to turn a one-point halftime deficit into a 63-59 lead. They finished strong by outscoring Temple (10-17, 5-10) 16-8 in the final quarter.
After turning the ball over eight times in the first half, leading to 12 Temple points, the Shockers limited the turnovers to six in the second half. With the ball going to the right places, they scored in the paint, on offensive rebounds and drives to the basket to pull away from the Owls, who made 8 of 11 shots in the third quarter and couldn't keep pace.
Jane Asinde matched Dean with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Colbert added 13 points and six rebounds.
Shamaryah Duncan made 3 of 4 three-pointers and scored 11 points.
"We did a better job of taking care of the ball," Wichita State coach
Keitha Adams said. "When we take care of the basketball, and we win the boards, I really like our chances."
The Shockers trailed 47-42 when Colbert missed a jumper and Dean grabbed the rebound. She scored and drew a foul and her three-point play cut the lead to two points. She converted another three-point play to keep the Shockers within two. Her three-pointer with 4:27 to play in the third tied it at 51-all and Wichita State never trailed again.
Wichita State put the game away with clutch shooting in the fourth.
Nhug Bosch Duran sank a corner three to extend the lead to seven points. Duncan's three-pointer gave the Shockers 71-63 lead.
"(Dean) really got on a roll," Adams said. "Nhug's three in the corner was a big one."
The Owls failed to match that offense. They missed 10 of 13 shots, all six from three-point range, in the fourth quarter. Aleah Nelson, after scoring 10 first-half points, finished with 16. Caranda Perea scored 14 in the first half and none in the second. The Shockers trapped Nelson to get the ball out of her hands and she shot 1 for 6 in the second half.
"Our uniforms were sweaty today," Adams said. "We played a lot harder today than we did our last game (at SMU). Today, we're going to have to wash the uniforms."
Paul Suellentrop writes about Wichita State athletics for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.
