WICHITA, Kan. — Wichita State showed grit and resilience, rallying from a double-digit halftime deficit, but the comeback fell just short as the Shockers dropped their fifth straight, 60-55, to Cal State Bakersfield Saturday afternoon inside Charles Koch Arena.
After trailing 42-28 at the break, the Shockers stormed back with a commanding third quarter, outscoring the Roadrunners 15-5 and trimming the gap to just three heading into the final period. Wichita State (1-5) held the Roadrunners (2-4) to just 13.3 percent shooting in the frame, using defensive stops and timely free throws to ignite the run.
Abby Cater led the Shockers with 11 points, adding four assists and six steals while going a perfect 5-for-5 at the free throw line.
Kyleigh Ortiz chipped in seven points, including a key three in the first half, and
Maimouna Sissoko added five points and a team-high seven rebounds off the bench.
Diamond Richardson posted six points and three steals in her first Shocker start, while
Jaila Harding added eight points.
Wichita State's bench provided a major spark, outscoring CSUB's reserves 25-13 and fueling the second-half surge. The Shockers also capitalized at the line, finishing 21-for-28 (75 percent), the Shockers' most made free throws of the season, compared to Bakersfield's 6-for-15.
CSU Bakersfield opened the game shooting 58.8 percent in the first quarter to build an early lead and used 16 points from Chrishawn Coleman and 12 from Morgan Hawkins to stay in front. The Roadrunners scored 34 points in the paint and converted 18 points off WSU turnovers.
Despite the early deficit, Wichita State fought back, using a 6-0 run to start the third quarter and claw within striking distance. The Shockers had multiple chances to tie it in the fourth, but Shocker turnovers helped maintain the Roadrunner edge in the final minutes.
Wichita State returns to action next week in Irvine, Calif. at the UC Irvine ZotGiving Classic where they will take on UC Irvine on Friday, Nov. 28 and Idaho on Saturday, Nov. 29 in the Bren Events Center.
