The RoundHouse | 1/26/2024 11:06:00 AM
By Paul Suellentrop
When the Shockers practice today, they are supposed to focus on Saturday's game against Florida Atlantic.
That focus, however, should be sharpened by all the good that the Shockers accomplished during Thursday's 83-81 overtime loss to UAB at Koch Arena. The mistakes should further sharpen that concentration. Wichita State let a victory against one of the teams tied for first in the American Athletic Conference women's basketball standings turn into disappointment.
"We played with a lot of passion, a lot of emotion," coach
Terry Nooner said. "Offensively, I thought it was one of our best games of the season. We just needed one stop at the end, and we didn't come up with it."
The Shockers (6-14, 2-6 AAC) face a one-day preparation for Florida Atlantic (5-13, 0-7) at 5 p.m. Saturday (ESPN+) at Koch Arena.
"Keep moving forward," freshman guard
Salese Blow said. "With a heartbreaking loss like this, and how angry we are, we need to take that anger out on FAU."
Thursday's loss is heartening and heartbreaking because the Shockers did so many things right. Limiting their turnovers to 14 over 45 minutes gave the offense a chance to get into a flow and keep up with the AAC's best three-point shooting team.
WSU trailed 72-63 before a 9-0 run forced overtime. In overtime, the Shockers led 78-73 before the Blazers (15-4, 6-1) took control. UAB guard Denim DeShields scored in the lane with one second to play for the win.
Center
Daniela Abies totaled 23 points and 10 rebounds for her third straight double-double. Blow sent the game into overtime with a jump shot and finished with 21 points, seven rebounds and six assists.
Tre'Zure Jobe added 18 points.
With Abies as the focal point, the Shockers hit their highest point total (in regulation) in AAC play at 72. They shot better than 40 percent (41.2) from three-point range for the second time in conference play and matched their season high with 19 assists.
"When she was drawing double teams and she was able to kick it, and the guards would open and ready to shoot, that helps a lot," Blow said. "She draws two, sometimes three, people."
The Shockers made 19 of 37 shots (51.3 percent) in the second half when Abies dominated for stretches. She made 5 of 8 shots in the third quarter and 3 of 7 in the fourth. It all worked because Wichita State, which averaged 17.6 turnovers entering the game, dropped that number to 14 after committing 13 in its previous game.
The threat of Abies' post scoring, and her willingness to pass, helps the Shocker offense avoid turnovers. Getting her the ball in the post isn't complicated and her scoring ability often gets the defense scrambling to help, which opens shots for teammates.
"Something we focus on in practice is making the easy play at all times," Nooner said. "You make turnovers when you try to force stuff and shoot through double teams and split traps. We did a good job of playing together and making the easy play."
With Abies, Jobe and Blow, the Shockers possess three scoring threats. Abies played 35 minutes and made 11 of 19 shots. Blow played 40 minutes and made 3 of 4 three-pointers. Jobe checked in with 41 minutes and made 5 of 10 shots in the second half for 11 points with three assists and one turnover.
"The moment we start sharing the ball, you can tell a difference," Abies said.
The Shockers played two of the best games against two of the AAC's top teams – UAB and North Texas. At North Texas, WSU led by 18 points before losing 72-68. Nooner will point out the small margin between wins and losses as part of the needed focus.
On Thursday, the Shockers held UAB to 10-of-35 three-point shooting, below its season percentage of 35.5. But the Shockers lost their defensive organization in the second quarter and gave up an open three in the final seconds. Instead of leading, the Shockers went into halftime tied at 27.
"We just didn't get matched up," Nooner said. "We have different moments in games when we will lose our focus and we will give up easy baskets."
Paul Suellentrop writes about Wichita State athletics for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.
