WICHITA STATE (0-3, 0-0 American) vs. UC RIVERSIDE (1-2, 0-0 Big West)
Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026 | 2:00 p.m.
Wichita, Kan. | Charles Koch Arena
TV: ESPN+
Radio: GoShockers.com/Listen with Pat Strathman
Shocksgiving & Doubleheader Deal: Celebrate Shocksgiving with women's basketball. Bring canned goods and nonperishable food items to support our community, with all donations benefiting Shocker Support Locker. Plus, men's basketball ticket holders for the game against Austin Peay can take advantage of the Doubleheader Deal by presenting their ticket at the Charles Koch Arena Ticket Office for a FREE General Admission ticket to women's basketball!
 
OPENING TIPS
The Shockers are seeking their first win of the season as they take on UC Riverside on Saturday afternoon in Charles Koch Arena.
The teams meet for the first time in program history.
Wichita State is coming off an 8-23 season where they missed the American Conference tournament. Head coach Terry Nooner enters his fourth season at the helm, entering the year with a 28-67 record.
The Shockers' 2026-27 roster features 12 new players and zero returners.
After having no true freshmen on the 2025-26 roster, Wichita State signed five players out of high school: Mari Milton, Rachel Skulsky, Kaylea Lacey, Aaliyah Broadus and Alexis Leyva.
Wichita State brought in two SEC transfers from the portal, adding junior Ma'Riya Vincent from Missouri and senior Clara Koulibaly from Auburn.
The Shockers have one Kansas native on their roster as Lily Ba from Overland Park returns to her home state for her fourth collegiate season.
Vincent leads the Shockers in scoring through her first three games, averaging 12 points per game. Milton is also averaging double figures with 11.7 points per game and is leading the team in rebounding with 6.7 per game and assists with 4.3 per game.
 
STREAKS AND TRENDS
Vincent has finished in double figures in two of the first three games.
Milton, the shortest Shocker on the court, has led the team in rebounding two of the first three games.
 
THE SHOCKS, IN SHORT
After losing all 15 players from the 2025-26 roster to graduation and the transfer portal, Terry Nooner built an entirely new roster of 12 for the 2026-27 season. In recruiting, Nooner looked for players who fit the team's core values, emphasizing the value of team culture with his pillars of character, accountability, respect and effort (C.A.R.E). In the American Conference, many teams' best player plays the 4, and Nooner recruited Vincent to fill that spot for the Shockers. Nooner describes Vincent as a versatile guard who can handle the ball, drive, shoot midrange, post up, draw fouls, rebound and be physical while having the ability to guard 1-through-5. Nooner's freshman class has proven to be even keel and coachable, and they play hard and want to be great. He's found maturity in his young players, while they don't get too high or too low and are giddy for each day. Nooner wants to be hard to scout, getting everybody involved and not relying on one player.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Wichita State women's basketball fell to Missouri State, 76-48, Tuesday morning on Kids Day at Charles Koch Arena. The Shockers (0-3) were led by freshman Mari Milton, who finished with a team-high 14 points, four rebounds and two assists. Freshman Alexis Leyva added 12 points, while junior Ma'Riya Vincent recorded five points, four rebounds and three assists. Missouri State (3-0) jumped out to a 20-11 lead after the opening quarter, shooting 47.4 percent from the field in the period. Wichita State stayed within striking distance in the second quarter, getting a three-pointer from Amaya Lacy and baskets from Milton and Aaliyah Broadus, but the Bears carried a 34-20 advantage into halftime. Missouri State extended its lead in the third quarter, outscoring the Shockers 25-12 to take a 59-32 advantage into the final period. Wichita State showed fight in the fourth quarter, scoring 16 points. Leyva shot five-for-five from the free throw line and scored seven points in the Shockers' fourth-quarter push. Rachel Skulsky knocked down a three-pointer, while Milton added two more baskets and Lili Harrison scored inside.
 
SCOUTING THE HIGHLANDERS
Led by fourth-year head coach Brad Langston, UC Riverside is 1-2 after defeating Occidental and falling to Seattle and Gonzaga. The Highlanders rank 38^th in the nation and second in the Big West in forced turnovers per game (25.33), led by Taylor Swanson with seven total. Graecyn Parahi is leading the Highlanders in scoring, averaging 10 points per game. UC Riverside was picked seventh of 12 teams in the Big West Preseason Coaches' Poll.
 
INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR
Wichita State's roster features three foreign players, all from Canada, with Rachel Skulsky hailing from Calgary, Alberta, Clara Koulibaly coming from Montreal, Quebec and Klea Kaci joining from Mississauga, Ontario.
 
THEY HAVE HISTORY
Two Shockers reunite as Mari Milton and Kendal Robinson play together again after playing high school basketball together at North Crowley High School.