WICHITA, Kan. – Wichita State women's basketball opened the 2025–26 season in emphatic fashion Monday night, rolling past Lincoln 96–42 in Charles Koch Arena.
 
"Great first night out," head coach Terry Nooner said. "It was a total team effort. We had contributions from a bunch of different people."
 
The Shockers shot 57 percent from the field and forced 31 turnovers en route to their largest margin of victory since 2022.
 
Graduate guard and Wichita native Jaila Harding led a balanced Shocker attack with 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting, including five three-pointers. Sophie Benharouga added 15 points off the bench, while Abby Cater and Taya Davis each chipped in 12 and 7 points, respectively, with Davis dishing out a game-high nine assists.
 
In total, 12 Shockers found the scoring column and six finished with at least eight points. Wichita State's bench poured in 50 points, and the Shockers turned Lincoln's miscues into 39 points off turnovers.
 
Wichita State (1–0) jumped out to a 26–12 lead after the opening quarter and never looked back, extending the margin to 56–19 by halftime behind a 30-point second period fueled by stifling defense and crisp ball movement. The Shockers' defense held Lincoln (0–1) to just 22 percent shooting for the game, including 17 percent from beyond the arc.
 
The Shockers dominated the paint 54–12 and ran the floor effectively, outscoring the Blue Tigers 26–5 in fast-break points.
 
Jaida McDonald added 10 points and seven rebounds, while Bre'Yon White filled the stat sheet with eight points, four rebounds, and four steals. Maimouna Sissoko added nine points and seven rebounds for the Shockers.
 
Wichita State will continue its homestand Thursday night when it welcomes Northwestern State to Charles Koch Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.