The Shockers’ poor interior defense and Florida Atlantic’s well-rounded offense proved too much Tuesday night, as FAU bested Wichita State women’s basketball in an overtime thriller, 79-77.
With its fourth straight loss, WSU fell to 5-20 overall and 2-10 in American Conference play. The Shockers were unable to avenge their road loss against FAU Jan. 13.
Wichita State remains outside of the top 10 in the American. As of now, it would be on the outside looking in at the conference tournament. They Shockers will need to make up a game-and-a-half with six left to earn a berth to Birmingham, Ala.
Graduate guard Abby Cater led WSU with 27 points, her second-highest scoring performance of the year. Graduate guard Diamond Richardson was the only other Shocker in double digits, with 15 off the bench.
WSU’s Jaila Harding knocked down a 3-pointer in the first quarter, putting her just two away from tying WSU’s single-season 3-point record. She went cold after that, shooting 1-of-8 from beyond the arc, including a blocked game-winning three. With six games to go, Harding is just two away from tying, three from breaking, Courtney Sims’ (1999-2000) WSU single-season 3-point record.
A slow start stunted the Shockers early, coming out 2-of-8 from the floor. But they slowly heated up to the tune of six of their next 11, including a 7-0 run to end the first quarter to create a four-point advantage, 17-14.
Wichita State’s first-half struggles at the rim (just 37%) held it back, meanwhile FAU saw eight different Owls score in a balanced attack, giving them a 31-28 lead into the break.
In a game with 14 lead changes in the first 25 minutes, FAU had finally built a seven-point lead, the largest of either team at that point, when two Maimouna Sissoko back-to-the-basket scores proved huge for the Shockers, cutting the lead to three, and letting them back in to the game, 44-41.
Just as Florida Atlantic had rebuilt a seven-point cushion, graduate guard Taya Davis drained a much-needed 3-pointer with 22 seconds left in the quarter, igniting WSU’s bench and once again putting them within striking distance.
Once again, Cater proved why she was one of the American Conference’s top scoring threats with a scoring surge of 14 points in the fourth quarter and overtime alone.
Two missed FAU free throws opened the door for the Shockers to force double overtime. Cater stepped up, attacking the rim and finishing a game-tying layup to knot the score at 77 all.
Florida Atlantic’s Erin Rodgers sealed the game with a heavily contested pullup jumper and a game-winning block on Harding’s three-point prayer.
WSU will look to bounce back and end its four-game skid with a road game on Friday at Rice, who is undefeated in conference play. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Tudor Fieldhouse.
Box Score breakdown
WSU — 17; 11; 18; 21; 10 — 77
FAU — 13; 18; 19; 17; 12; — 79
Shooting totals (fg-3pt-ft)
WSU (42%-20%-64%)
FAU (50%-29%-75%)
Leaders
Points — WSU: Abby Cater (27), Diamond Richardson (15), Jaida McDonald (8), Maimou Sissoko (8) FAU: Erin Rodgers (24), Jess Moors (13), Grace Cartensen (9), Madi Gewirtz (9).
Rebounds — WSU: Abby Cater (8), Maimou Sissoko (8), Jaida McDonald (6). FAU: Jess Moors (9), Haley Walker (6), Grace Cartensen (4).
Assists — WSU: Taya Davis (6), Jaila Harding (2). FAU: Jess Moors (2), Vivian Onugha (2), Haley Walker (2).
