A big first quarter deficit sank Wichita State women’s basketball against Charlotte Saturday afternoon. The 49ers bested the Shockers 81-72 at Halton Arena.
After dropping its third straight, WSU’s record fell to 5-19 on the season and 2-9 in American Conference play. The Shockers are now two games from making the conference tournament.
WSU was led by 21 points from graduate guard Jaila Harding on 7-of-14 shooting, including five 3-pointers. She’s now tied with Alie Decker for the second-most threes made during a single season in program history with 70. And with seven regular season games remaining, Harding needs just three to tie Courtney Sims’ 1999 record.
Graduate forward Bre’Yon White finished with 12 points off the bench in 29 minutes, and graduate guard Abby Cater scored 10 of her own. Cater fouled out with 43 seconds left in the game.
Charlotte was led by a balanced attack that saw four players score 10 or more points. The 49ers’ Asianae Nicholson pulled down a game-high 17 rebounds, 12 more than any individual for WSU. They also shot a consistent 43% from the floor, 44% from deep and made 16 of 17 attempts (94%) at the foul line.
Charlotte started the game by making two straight from long range within a minute after the opening tipoff. Harding steadied the Shockers and gave them a slim advantage, 9-8.
The 49ers buckled down and controlled the rest of the first quarter, outscoring the Shockers 13-1, to open up a 21-10 cushion.
The Shockers inched closer during the second stanza and brought their deficit to seven points until the final minute. Charlotte opened another 10-point lead at halftime after converting on four of its final five shots, 38-28.
Nearing the end of the third quarter, the Shockers used a 9-2 run and brought Charlotte’s lead to three points, 51-48. But former Shocker and now-49er Princess Anderson made a buzzer-beating triple to end the period.
Even after the buzzer beater, WSU remained poised and got within two points less than 90 seconds into the fourth quarter, 54-52. But that was as close as they got down the stretch, as the 49ers repeatedly made trips to the foul line for untimed shots.
Despite the hole WSU fell into at the end of the first quarter, the Shockers played Charlotte close, outscoring it 62-60 the rest of the way.
The Shockers travel back to Koch Arena for a chance to course correct against Florida Atlantic on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
Box score breakdown
WSU — 10; 18; 20; 24 — 72
Charlotte — 21; 17; 16; 27 — 81
Shooting totals (fg-3p-ft)
WSU (49% – 44% – 57%)
Charlotte (43% – 44% – 94%)
Leaders
Points — WSU: Jaila Harding (21), Bre’Yon White (12), Abby Cater (10). Charlotte: Princess Anderson (19), Asianae Nicholson (14), Zoe Best (11), Tanajah Harris (10).
Rebounds — WSU: Abby Cater (5), Bre’Yon White (5), Maimouna Sissoko (4). Charlotte: Asianae Nicholson (17), Zoe Best (4), Ja’Navia Gage (4).
Assists — WSU: Taya Davis (6), Bre’Yon White (3), Jaila Harding (2), Abby Cater (2). Charlotte: Zoe Best (3), Tanajah Hayes (3), Princess Anderson (3).
