BELMONT (0-1) vs. WICHITA STATE (1-0)
Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024 | 2 p.m. CT
Wichita, Kan. | Charles Koch Arena
TV: ESPN+ with Tracy Anderson and Shane Dennis
Radio: GoShockers.com/Listen with Pat Strathman 

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Salute to Service: We pay tribute to retired and active-duty military personnel ahead of Veteran's Day by offering a two-for-one, $20 ticket that is good for both the men's and women's game on this day.
Animal Shelter Supplies Drive: During National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week, we are teaming up with Beauties & Beasts to raise awareness for the services they provide while gathering supplies to assist in their efforts. When you bring a donation to the Beauties and Beasts table on the main concourse, you will receive entries to win a Shocker Store gift card. Acceptable items include dry/canned dog and/or cat food, treats, general cleaning supplies, cat litter and fleece blankets.
Greek Night: We welcome the Wichita State University Greek Life Community to the game and will recognize the presidents of their chapters during a timeout. WSU Greek Alumni can receive a two-for-one, $20 ticket that is good for both the men's and women's game on this day.
SCHEELS Junior Shocker Kids Club Day: Sign your child up for the SCHEELS Junior Shocker Kids Club so they can receive an exclusive experience. | Purchase Membership HERE | RSVP HERE
Giveaway: The first 500 fans will receive a free rally towel.

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OPENING TIP
Wichita State hosts Belmont in Charles Koch Arena on Saturday as the teams meet for just the second time in history. The Bruins lead the series 1-0 after claiming a 75-67 victory a season ago in Nashville.
The Shockers opened the season at home on Monday with a win over Oklahoma Christian.
With nine newcomers on the team, the Shockers return 37.6 percent of their scoring.
Sophomore Salese Blow is back for her sophomore season after leading Wichita State in scoring during conference play, averaging 13.5 points per game in the AAC and 12.3 points per game overall. Redshirt-junior Jayla Murray is back and better than ever after a summer spent in the gym and improving her nutrition. Further removed from her ACL injury, Murray, who averaged 7.1 points per game a season ago, is playing with more confidence.
Graduate transfer and Wichita native, Taylor Jameson, made her official Shocker debut against Oklahoma Christian, leading all scoring with 13 points.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Three Shockers finished in double figures in the season opener win over Oklahoma Christian. Taylor Jameson led all scoring with 13 points. Jayla Murray recorded her first career double-double with 10 points and a career-high 13 rebounds, and Aicha Ndour put up 10 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Bre'Yon White led the defense with four steals. Wichita State has now won its last five home openers. The Shockers dominated the boards, outrebounding the Eagles, 57-38. 13 Shockers entered the game, and 10 played at least 10 minutes. Free throw shooting continued to be an issue for the Shockers as they shot just 9-for-22 (.409) from the line.
 
SCOUTING THE BRUINS
Led by eighth-year head coach Bart Brooks, the Bruins are coming off a 56-82 loss to No. 13 Kansas State on Thursday. Four Bruins finished in doubles figures in Kendall Holmes (12), Tuti Jones (10), Jailyn Banks (10) and Emily La Chapell (10). Kendal Cheesman led the team in rebounding with eight. Belmont was picked 3rd of 12 teams in the Missouri Valley Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll and received three first-place votes. Banks, Cheesman and Jones were all selected to the Preseason All-MVC Second Team.
 
LAST MEETING
Wichita State and Belmont met for the first time a season ago in Nashville where the Bruins claimed a 75-67 victory. Tre'Zure Jobe led the Shockers with 16 points, and DJ McCarty (13) and Daniela Abies (11) also finished in double figures. Belmont's Tess Miller and Jailyn Banks put up 17 points apiece. The Shockers had difficulty protecting the paint in the first half as the Bruins scored 24 points in the paint, going 10-for-13 with layups. Fouls hurt the Shockers as Belmont shot 24 free throws compared to Wichita State's eight, and the Bruins capitalized on those opportunities, shooting 20-for-24 from the line (83.3%). Salese Blow got her first career start for the Shockers and tallied eight points and two steals.
 
NOT SO NEW-COMERS
Between the nine new additions to the 2024-25 Wichita State roster, they combine for 20 years of collegiate basketball experience. Nooner brought in three Division I transfers: Taylor Jameson from George Mason, Aicha Ndour from Illinois and Bre'Yon White from TCU.
 
Princess Anderson (Pratt CC), Kyleigh Ortiz (Coffeyville CC), Jasmine Peaks (Indian River State), and Maimouna Sissoko (Cloud County CC) all transferred from junior colleges, joining Jayla Murray (Florida SouthWestern State) and Ornella Niankan (Odessa College) to make six Shockers who began their careers in the NJCAA.
 
INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR
The Shockers' roster features international athletes from five different countries, including Canada (Ornella Niankan), France (Fiona Diomande), Mali (Maimouna Sissoko), Mozambique (Carla Budane), and Senegal (Aicha Ndour).
 
#MOREBOBO
Salese Blow, nicknamed BoBo by her mom when Salese couldn't pronounce the L in her last name as a kid, enters her sophomore season after claiming three American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Week awards in 2023-24. As a freshman, she increased her scoring from non-conference to conference play, leading the Shockers in points per game against AAC opponents with 13.5. She recorded 21 double-figure scoring games with five 20+ point performances.
 
SUMMER WELL SPENT
The Shockers embarked on a trip to the U.S. Virgin Islands from July 28-August 2, where they played two games against Canadian team, Regina. The trip allowed the team to bond and experience a different culture, growing as a unit on and off the court. Wichita State won the first game 81-76 and the second game 69-60.