WICHITA – The Shockers dropped their third-straight game as their second-half comeback efforts fell short against Tulane on Wednesday night in Charles Koch Arena.
 
The Green Wave's interior defense limited the Shockers to just 31.9 percent shooting from the field. Their perimeter defense did just as well, holding Wichita State to 26.3 percent from beyond the arc in tonight's game. Despite this, the Shockers' leading scorer, Salese Blow, succeeded from deep, hitting 3-of-7 three-point attempts and finishing with 20 points and five rebounds, her third 20-point performance of the season.
 
Joining Blow in double-figures was Jayla Murray, who scored 17 points of her own, shooting 8-of-16 from the field and collecting two blocks and two steals.
 
Led by forward Amira Mabry, Tulane started the night in control as the Green Wave opened the game with a 20-11 lead. The Shockers closed the final minute of the first quarter with momentum, though, going on a 5-0 run to lessen their deficit to four (20-16).
 
Mabry led the Green Wave in scoring, as she collected 20 points and a game-high 13 rebounds.
 
The Green Wave's size and physicality gave the Shockers issues as Tulane out-rebounded Wichita State 52-41. Tulane had three players grabbing at least eight rebounds or more, while the Shockers had only one player reach seven (Jasmine Peaks).
 
The two teams battled back and forth throughout the second frame, but the score would find the Green Wave up 34-33 at the half.
 
Wichita State took care of the ball well compared to their counterparts in tonight's contest, winning the turnover battle with seven fewer turnovers (19-12). Five Shockers recorded at least one steal, with Blow and Jordan Jackson swiping away one and Peaks, Murray, and Taylor Jameson all corralling two.
 
Tulane refused to lose its lead throughout the third quarter, but a 10-5 run fueled by knock-down free-throw shooting and a pair of buckets from Murray saw Wichita State take a 50-49 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
 
The Shockers crushed the Green Wave in points from the bench, proving why they lead the American Athletic Confrerence in bench points per game, as Wichita State's reserves contributed 23 points, while Tulane's failed to score a single point.
 
The Green Wave reclaimed their lead immediately in the fourth with a put-back lay-in. Tulane held the lead for the remainder of the game as the Shocker's offensive attack froze up. The Green Wave hit clutch free throws down the stretch, while Wichita State failed to score on the offensive end, leading to a 66-62 loss.
 
Allowing second-chance opportunities was a significant blow for the Shockers in the fourth quarter, allowing six second-chance points. Tulane scored 13 points on extra chances in the game, while Wichita State scored only eight.
 
Wichita State will now travel to Denton, Texas, on Saturday, Jan. 18, to play North Texas at 2 p.m. in The Super Pit.