Women’s basketball knocked out in first round

Coach Jody Adams has figured out the formula for winning games and running through the Missouri Valley Conference tournament, but could’t continue her winless record in the Women’s NCAA Tournament.

 Losing to California in the first round Saturday marks three straight trips to the big dance coming out of each with a loss.

“Of course it’s a disappointment,” senior Alex Harden said. “You have to understand we gave our whole heart out there. We just came up a little short today.”

Wichita State (29-4) came into the tournament set to face Cal (23-9) in the opening round. Harden threw the first punch by making a layup the first possession of the game, but this would be the only time the Shockers would have the lead.

The game went back and forth for much of the first half with the Shockers cutting the lead to only a field goal. It was looking like this game would be close until the end.

Late in the first half with the score 24-26, Cal coach Lindsay Gottlieb called for a timeout to regroup the Bears. Whatever Gottlieb said in that huddle pushed Cal’s offense.

On an 11-3 run, Cal ended the half with a 10-point lead to put the the score at 27-37.

The start of the second half was not much better for the Shockers. They just didn’t have an answer for Cal’s offense. With a layup early in the second half by Cal’s Reshanda Gray, it put the Bears in a comfortable lead at 34-47.

The fight wasn’t over for the Shockers. With two successful trips to the free throw line by Harden and Michaela Dapprich, and a three-pointer from Dapprich, WSU put themselves back in the game with a 9-0 run.

With 12 minutes left in the second half, Gottlieb felt the Shockers nipping at their heels. Calling a timeout to regroup her players once again, Cal came back out and answered with five quick points.

The Shockers committed eight fouls and five turnovers in the final minutes of the game. With no answer for Cal’s leading scorer Reshanda Gray (22 points) and their two freshmen, McDonald’s All-Americans Gabby Green (11 points) and Mikayla Cowling (11 points), the Shockers were defeated 66-78.

Cal dominated the board with 37 rebounds and shot a lights out 52 percent from the field. WSU would finish with 27 rebounds and 40 percent from the field. Wichita State is known for their defense, but it was no match for Cal’s efficient offense.

“You have to give them credit for those freshmen stepping up and knocking down big shots,” Adams said. “This is the time of the year when if you’re a big-time player, you make big-time shots.”

For Harden, this season put her in the record books at the all-time leading scorer in WSU women’s basketball history. Her efforts in the game didn’t go unnoticed, and Gottlieb made sure she knew it.

“I grabbed her at the end of the handshake line,” Gottlieb said, “and told [Harden] you could play anywhere.”

Adams said she would not let this loss define their season. Adams knew she was losing much more than a game.

“I’m probably not thinking about the loss, I’m thinking about the loss of the three seniors,” she said. “This loss doesn’t define Wichita State’s program.”