Wichita State women’s basketball ended its season with a 65-61 loss to Memphis Saturday afternoon.
The Shockers finished their year at 8-23 and 5-13 in the American Conference. It was the first time they didn’t win 10 or more games since 2014-15, aside from the COVID-scattered 2020-21 season.
Wichita State came out competitive against the Tigers, knotting the score at 12 at the first media timeout in the first quarter, but Memphis used a 6-0 run to take a 20-17 lead by the end of it.
The Shockers later tied the game at 20 in the second quarter and eventually missed six straight shots and went scoreless for over five minutes of game time, allowing the Tigers to create a nine-point gap, 29-20. A 3-pointer by graduate guard Jaila Harding finally ended the drought and brought Wichita State within two possessions, 29-23.
The Shockers later trailed 35–29 before the break, however.
Graduates Abby Cater and Treasure Thompson sparked a 9-0 run for WSU in the third quarter before Memphis responded with a 7-0 burst of its own at the end of the period, 50-44.
In the fourth quarter, the Shockers battled but could not take back the lead.
With one minute left, Harding was fouled on a three and drained two of the untimed shots to bring the Shockers within three points, 62-59. The Tigers converted to free throws on the other end to go back up by five and made another after Cater’s tip-in to decide the final score.
Cater finished the game with her second straight double-double to lead the Shockers in points (19) and rebounds (11).
Box score breakdown
WSU — 17; 12; 15; 17 — 61
Memphis — 20; 15; 15; 15 — 65
Shooting totals (fg-3p-ft)
WSU (44% – 30% – 61%)
Memphis (40% – 33% – 64%)
Leaders
Points — WSU: Abby Cater (19), Jaila Harding (10), Maimouna Sissoko (8). Memphis: Tamya Smith (21), Amauri Williams (17), Cori Allen (10).
Rebounds — WSU: Abby Cater (11), Taya Davis (6), Maimouna Sissoko (5). Memphis: Tamya Smith (8), Amauri Williams (6), Cori Allen (5).
Assists — WSU: Taya Davis (3), Abby Cater (2), Bre’Yon White (1), Jaida McDonald (1). Memphis: Daejah Richmond (5), Cori Allen (3), Brooklynn Charlo (2).
