Box Score

WICHITA, Kan. – On the road Sunday afternoon, the University of Evansville women’s basketball team suffered a 69-43 loss at Wichita State University’s Charles Koch Arena. The loss drops the Aces record to 5-21 on the season and 2-13 in the Missouri Valley Conference, while the Shockers remain the first-place team in the Valley, improving to 17-8 overall and 11-3 in the MVC.

Junior Samantha Heck led the way for Evansville with her fourth career double-double, matching a career-high 21 points while grabbing a season-high 11 rebounds. Classmate Taylor Ware added eight points, followed by Meagan Collins’ six points.
Although Wichita State scored the first basket, Evansville matched the Shockers, bucket for bucket, going into the first media timeout tied, 4-4.

However, WSU’s run-and-gun offense on misses and full court pressure on makes got the best of the Aces, leading to a Wichita 10-0 run. The Shockers started the rally with a layup on the break, and recorded four points on two quick steals. A free throw and another steal and layup by Alex Harden in UE’s backcourt, her third of the run, gave WSU a 14-4 advantage with 12:16 left in the opening period.

Ware ended Evansville’s scoring drought with a strong drive, layup, and foul, completing the three-point play at the line. After another turnover and layup by Haleigh Lankster, the Aces regrouped to cut the deficit to two, 18-16, at the 6:11 mark, following a 9-2 run. Heck capped the rally with a right-handed drive and three-pointer, back-to-back.

Out of a WSU timeout, the Shockers answered right back with an 8-0 run and outscored the Aces 13-5 in the final six minutes of the half, sending UE into the locker room trailing 31-21.

Out of the break, Heck scored the first five points of the half, finishing a layup and draining a three in front of the UE bench, but the Shockers answered with a 15-2 run, expanding their lead to 46-28 with 15 minutes to go.

Wichita State continued to stretch the margin to as much as 29 points, shooting 59.3 percent (16-27) in the second period, including making 15 of their first 19 shots (78.9%).

In the game, Evansville shot 39.1 percent (18-46) from the field, 15.8 percent (3-19) from three, and made all four from the line, while Wichita State shot 52.9 percent (27-51) from the field, 40.0 percent (2-5) from behind the arc, and 86.7 percent (13-15) from the charity stripe.

Forcing the Aces to commit 28 turnovers, the Shockers outscored UE, 33-4 off the miscues, including 14 fast break points. Evansville won the battle of the boards, 30-23.

Harden and Jessica Diamond led Wichita State with 14 points apiece, while Lankster also reached double figures, scoring 11 points.

The Aces play their last road game of the regular season next Sunday, traveling to take on Southern Illinois. Tip-off is set for 2:05 p.m. CT.