The RoundHouse | 2/17/2024 5:42:00 PM

By Paul Suellentrop
 
DJ McCarty showed belief in new coach Terry Nooner and stayed with Wichita State instead of transferring last summer.
 
In Nooner's mind, that should have been the start of a memorable senior season for his point guard. Instead, McCarty injured her leg in October. She tried to play through the injury that robbed her of her trademark speed and bounce. She ultimately missed five games before returning in January and gradually increasing her playing time.
 
"She took a chance on us," Nooner said. "To see her keep fighting and keep working hard every day and doing everything she can to help the team, whether she's playing or not, I just have a soft spot for her."
 
On Saturday, McCarty's senior season produced its highlight moment in a 74-65 win over Tulsa at Koch Arena. She scored a career-high 26 points and handed out five assists with two turnovers. She scored nine of those points in the fourth quarter to help the Shockers (8-18, 4-10) outscore Tulsa 24-12.
 
"I think it was long overdue," McCarty said. "My season's been kind of up and down, kind of injury ridden."
 
With Tre'Zure Jobe out with an injury, the Shockers needed McCarty to play a season-high 36 minutes, 13 more than she had since returning from injury. She signaled WSU's plan early by driving to the rim and later sprinkled in jumpers. She made 8 of 18 shots, 3 of 5 three-pointers, and 7 of 10 foul shots.
 
With the ball in her hands much of the night, WSU limited its turnovers to 14.
 
"I felt like we were going to need her to have a big scoring night," Nooner said. "She really controlled the game on both ends of the floor. She got the ball to the right people. She made the game go at our pace."
 
 

DJ 20 piece! 😤 pic.twitter.com/ghht4sH8gB

— Wichita State Women's Basketball (@GoShockersWBB) February 17, 2024

 
 
Wichita State's pace meant scoring 30 points in the paint and outscoring Tulsa 20-4 at the line. Daniella Abies added 19 points, making 9 of 14 foul shots, and 13 rebounds. Playing at the pace – and making Tulsa get the ball out of the net and face an organized defense often – reversed the feel of WSU's 93-70 loss at Tulsa in January.
 
Nooner, instead of cutting up plays from that game, required the Shockers to watch the whole game.
 
"That was probably one of the worst games we've ever had," forward Sierra Morrow said. "We had no urgency in transition. They played freely and did whatever they wanted."
 
The Shockers, after allowing Tulsa (18-8, 8-5) to shoot 50 percent from the field and 14 of 30 behind the arc in January, held the Hurricane to 39.7-percent shooting and forced 22 turnovers. Delanie Crawford scored 29 points for the Hurricane, but Temira Poindexter went 5-for-17 on her way to 14 points. She dented the Shockers for 31 in the first meeting.
 
"We were locked in," Nooner said. "More physical. We let them play real free the first time."
 
McCarty made sure that effort paid off with a standout fourth quarter. She made 6 of 8 foul shots and recorded three assists and no turnovers. She beat the shot clock with a three-pointer for a 66-63 lead to start WSU's closing 11-2 run.
 
"We did it as a team and we owed Tulsa," she said.
 
 

Too smol 🤭 pic.twitter.com/KOLU2ri3YX

— Wichita State Women's Basketball (@GoShockersWBB) February 17, 2024

 
 
Paul Suellentrop writes about Wichita State athletics for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.