BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Wichita State women's basketball closed strong down the stretch to secure a 60-54 road victory over UAB Wednesday night at Bartow Arena.
The Shockers (7-21, 4-11 American) picked up their fourth conference win, matching their conference win total from a season ago. Graduate forward
Treasure Thompson put up a season-high 19 points to go along with five rebounds and three blocks in the win.
Abby Cater also had a strong showing, recording Wichita State's first double-double of the season, scoring 18 points and grabbing a career-high 10 rebounds, the graduate guard's fifth-straight game in double figures and 15
th of the season.
Jaida McDonald tied her Division I career-high of 12 points, and
Diamond Richardson dished a career-high seven assists.
Wichita State trailed by as many as 10 in the first quarter but cut the deficit to three at halftime (30-27) before grinding its way back with defense and second-chance points. The Shockers knotted the game at 38-38 late in the third quarter and then took their biggest lead of the game (7) in the fourth, outscoring UAB 22-13 over the final 10 minutes.
The Shockers scored 32 points in the paint and capitalized on extra opportunities, turning offensive rebounds into 12 second-chance points. Wichita State also pressured UAB into 15 turnovers, converting those into key buckets during the fourth-quarter push.
After UAB (10-17, 3-12 American) briefly reclaimed the lead midway through the final period, Wichita State answered with an 8-2 run, highlighted by a Thompson finish and clutch free throws from
Taya Davis down the stretch to seal the result.
The Shockers look to make it three in a row as they continue on their road trip, taking on Tulane (10-17, 5-10) on Saturday at 1 p.m. in Devlin Fieldhouse.
