Women's Basketball | 11/4/2025 2:45:00 PM
By
Paul Suellentrop
Wichita State women's basketball coach
Terry Nooner needed a point guard. He found one, thanks to a chance conversation with a former Shocker.
"Getting Taya was a real lucky thing," Nooner said after Monday's 96-42 season-opening win over NCAA Division II Lincoln (Mo.) University at Koch Arena.
A little luck and a prior relationship paid off for the Shockers.
Taya Davis, a transfer from Fordham, debuted with seven points, nine assists and four steals. She looked the part of the pass-first point guard Nooner needed.
"I love playing with her," guard
Jaila Harding said. "She does a good job of finding me in the offense. She knows when I have the hot hand."
WSU's new backcourt of Davis, Harding and
Abby Cater dominated the Blue Tigers in a complementary manner. Harding made 5 of 9 three-pointers and scored 17 points. Cater added 12 points with seven rebounds, four steals and three assists. They led a defense that recorded 21 steals and forced 31 turnovers to produce 39 points. The Shockers shot 57.1 percent from the field.
Nooner learned of Davis' entrance into the transfer portal when he bumped into
Ornella Niankan in WSU's Student-Athlete Success Center last spring. Niankan, who played the previous three seasons at Wichita State, told him she was transferring to Fordham. Nooner and assistant coach
Antwain Scales told her she would enjoy playing with Davis.
"And she said, 'Coach Scales, I'm not playing with Taya,'" Nooner said. "'Taya's in the portal. Coach Scales said, 'That's our point guard. That's who we need.'"
Scales knew all about Davis after coaching her at Garden City Community College in 2022-23. She averaged 8.5 points and 7.3 assists with a 1.7 assist-to-turnover ratio.
"(Scales) called me and my exact response was 'Dang, I've been waiting on you to call me,'" Davis said. "Coach Scales is more than a coach to me. He's treated me like family."
Davis said as her plane landed in Wichita for her recruiting trip, five messages from schools popped up on her phone. Her time at Garden City with Scales played a role in her signing with the Shockers.
"He's a real coach, on and off the floor," Davis said. "He's going to be there for you. He's going to coach you hard. He sees the potential in everybody."
The competition for the Shockers gets tougher this week with Thursday's game against Northwestern State. Two games against NCAA Division II opponents showed the Shockers have the potential to play aggressive defense and turn turnovers into baskets. The combination of Davis' court vision, Harding's shooting and Cater's all-around game is off to a strong start.
"I like point guards who are pass first," Nooner said. "Her game is to try to get other players open and she really feeds off making plays for her teammates. When you have an unselfish point guard, that feeds into the rest of the team and so everybody is successful."
Harding's constant movement works well with Davis' passing. Harding has a knack for finding open spots.
"That's always been my thing to do – pass the ball," Davis said. "It feels good seeing my teammates score."
Nooner wants the Shockers to create havoc with its pressure defense. One the defense turns into offense, it helps to get the ball to a point guard who can turn havoc into an orderly attack on the basket.
Paul Suellentrop writes about Wichita State athletics for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.
Season tickets are on sale now, and season ticket renewals are available as well. To purchase, visit
GoShockers.com/Tickets, dial 316-978-FANS (3267) or stop by the Shocker Ticket Office, located inside Charles Koch Arena, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
