Box Score

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Falling behind by as much as 10 points in the second half, the University of Evansville women’s basketball team battled back to tie the game, 47-47, with 2:55 to go. However, in the end, the visiting Wichita State University Shockers expanded its win-streak to nine straight games, edging the Purple Aces, 57-51, Thursday night at the Ford Center.

WSU improved to 12-5 overall and 6-0 in the Missouri Valley Conference, while UE fell to 4-14 on the season and 1-6 in the MVC.

Junior Samantha Heck led the Aces with her third career double-double, tallying 10 points and a season-high 10 rebounds.

Senior Briyana Blair recorded a team-high 14 points, and also added eight boards, six assists, and four steals. Making her first appearance since sitting out a month due to illness, freshman Juliann Miller also logged double-digits with a career-high 10 points. Junior Taylor Ware had a solid game, as well, with nine points, making 3-of-4 from both the field and the line, and grabbed four rebounds.

With six lead changes in the opening half, both teams owned three advantages of no more than three points in the first 10 minutes. With 10:17 remaining, Blair’s drive down the lane put the Aces ahead 11-10. UE held onto the lead for the next seven minutes, going up by as many as four points twice; first on a three by Miller after Blair kicked the ball out from down low, and then again on Miller’s strong drive to the hoop with 7:39 to go (16-12).

However, the Shockers used an 11-0 run over the final 4:23 of the opening half, taking a 25-18 lead into the break.

To start the second half, Evansville came out strong, and took advantage of their trips to the foul line, going 6-for-6, amidst an 8-2 run, to make it a one-point game, 27-26, with 16:34 remaining. Ware started the run with a layup and also added two free throws, while Blair made all four of hers at the charity stripe.

UE stayed within one, 29-28, following a layup by Miller, but Wichita State widened the gap to 10 points, 41-31, with a 12-3 run capped by Alex Harden’s layup with 10:33 remaining.

Evansville responded, however, with its own 13-4 run, getting back within one point, 45-44, following two more free throws by Blair.

Heck tied the score, 47-47, with a basket and a foul shot, but Jessica Diamond answered immediately with a mid-range jumper in front of the Shockers’ bench. It remained a two-point game entering the final minute of play, but Wichita State forced two turnovers that resulted in layups and made 4-of-4 from the free throw line to build as much as an eight-point lead. Junior Meagan Collins’ drive to the basket in the final seconds resulted in the final 57-51 score.

Diamond led the way for the Shockers with 16 points, seven boards, and four steals, followed by Chynna Turner’s 12 points and six rebounds.

Evansville shot 36.0 percent (18-50) from the field, 14.3 percent from three (2-14), and 72.2 percent (13-18) from the free throw line, while the Shockers shot 34.5 percent (19-55) from the floor, 37.5 percent (3-8) from behind the arc, and 72.7 percent (16-22) from the line. Both teams logged 39 rebounds.

The Aces are back in action Saturday, hosting Missouri State at 2:00 p.m. CT.