Despite a career night of eight steals for graduate guard Abby Cater, Wichita State’s defense could not contain Florida Atlantic, the third-lowest scoring team in the American Conference.
The 88-64 loss on Tuesday was the third consecutive loss of 20 or more points and sixth in a row for the Shockers’ women’s basketball team. Wichita State (3-15, 0-4 American) is still left without a win in the conference. The Owls, on the other hand, advanced to 8-9 overall and 2-3 against league opponents.
The Shockers began the game with a turnover after winning the opening tipoff. And while Wichita State was adept at getting the ball into the paint early, it struggled with finishing down low, missing three shots inside.
Outside of Cater, the Shocker backcourt had a tough night scoring, going 6-of-36 from the field.
With the backcourt struggling to finish inside, the frontcourt took to the post with inside scoring from the likes of forwards Jaida McDonald and Maimouna Sissoko. The frontcourt hit 10-of-18 for the game as the backcourt dominated the ball.
With Wichita State struggling with ball control and getting into the offense, head coach Terry Nooner quickly switched to the bench during a timeout midway through the first quarter. It proved to be a good move as the Shockers found calm waters, ending the period on a 6-3 run.
Nooner ended up playing 13 different players for the game as FAU stuck to a cozy eight-man rotation.
The Owls shot 4-for-6 from 3-point range in the first quarter, as they baited Wichita State to help inside on drives and kick plays.
Uncontested 3-pointers continued into the second quarter as the Owls feasted on defensive breakdowns. Nooner took a second timeout after three straight triples, which then turned into a 16-0 run with another FAU 3-pointer after the timeout, 43-18.
The Shockers found success when they were able to slow the game down in the low post, when Sissoko ended FAU’s run off a pass by graduate forward Sophie Benharouga.
The Owls’ 3-point artillery buried the Shockers hard in the first half and busted open the game, as they hit 8-of-15 from deep compared to WSU’s 0-for-10 clip.
FAU led by 20 at the end of the first half, 45-25, as Wichita State could not match the scoring output, especially with graduate guard Jaila Harding held scoreless in the half.
The third quarter continued on without much drama as FAU continued on with an assured victory, but WSU did make a small dent in its lead. Benharouga ended a 16-shot drought from 3-point range for the Shockers amid a 6-0 run that trimmed a 27-point deficit to 21.
Held without a point through 35 minutes of game time, Harding scored her first points in the fourth quarter: a 3-pointer on her ninth attempt from the field.
Despite gathering some easy buckets, the game was already out of the balance for Wichita State as the Owls coasted to victory in the fourth. FAU cooled down in the second half from 3-point range overall, going 3-for-11.
Wichita State will stay in Florida, traveling to Tampa to finish their road trip against South Florida on Saturday at 6 p.m.
Box score breakdown
WSU — 14; 11; 18; 21 — 64
FAU — 22; 23; 22; 21 — 88
Shooting totals (fg-3p-ft)
WSU (34% – 15% – 71%)
FAU (52% – 42% – 69%)
Leaders
Points — WSU: Abby Cater (17), Jaida McDonald (11), Sophie Benharouga (7), Diamond Richardson (7). FAU: Michiyah Simmons (17), Vivian Onugha (16), Grace Cartsensen (15), Jess Moors (11), Maddie Gewirtz (10).
Rebounds — WSU: Abby Cater (5), Jaida McDonald (4). FAU: Vivian Onugha (10), Jess Moors (9), Madi Gewritz (6).
Assists — WSU: Azjah Reeves (3), Sophie Benharouga (2). FAU: Zahira Arizmendi (4), Michiyah Simmons (4), Ineivi Plata (3), Jess Moors (3).
