Lady Shockers win in the first round of WNIT

In front of nearly 8,000 screaming local school children for Kid’s Day at Koch Arena, the Shocker women’s basketball team beat Indiana Purdue Fort Wayne 69-46.

The game kicked off the season for the Lady Shockers Friday afternoon, in the first round of the 2013 Preseason Women’s National Invitational Tournament.

Like their mascot, the mastodon, the Mastodons’ offense that was nearly extinct. The Shockers’ defense finished the half on a 21-1 run, leading the visiting Mastodons 37-13 at halftime.

“Our defense sparked our offense in the first half,” junior Alex Harden said.

The WSU starters took over the game in the second half, with Harden scoring the first two points.

Four Shocker starters scored double digit points, led by Harden with 15 points and senior Michelle Price with 14 points. Sophomore Michaela Dapprich chipped in 13 points, and junior Jamillah Bonner added 10 points.

“I really liked how my starters played,” Head coach Jody Adams said. “They did a phenomenal job, really getting us going and executing our game plan.”

The Shockers’ lead ballooned to 37 points in the second half before Adams pulled all of the starters out of the game. Only freshmen and newcomers played in the final 10:21 of the game.

“It was kind of a reality check for all of us and our freshmen and newcomers,” Harden said. “We gave them a lead so they could play in real game situations.”

Every Shocker player who suited up played in the game and all but one scored at least two points in the game.

Adams said she could see where the new team members still have to adjust to the game of college basketball. But with a team where everyone holds everyone accountable, Adams expects that they will be better by the end of the season.

The Shockers made 17 out of 22 free throws in the game for a 77 percent success rate from the free-throw line.

The Shockers will play the 11th ranked Oklahoma Sooners in Norman, Okla., on Sunday, Nov.10 at 2:00 p.m. in the second round of the WNIT.