Shockers fall in back-to-back road games against Valley front-runners
Looking at a chance for redemption, the Shockers traveled to Iowa over the weekend to square off against Missouri Valley Conference front-runners Drake and Northern Iowa.
The Shockers fell to Drake on Friday 77-57. They fell again for their fourth consecutive loss Sunday, losing to Northern Iowa 69-48.
Wichita State entered the weekend with a 5-15 record, and 2-7 conference record heading to Knapp Center. Drake leads the MVC with an 8-2 conference record.
The high-powered offense of the Bulldogs meant the Shockers would have to play near-perfect to keep the pace.
Drake dominated the Shockers offensively throughout the game. The Shockers’ Aundra Stovall and Jaleesa Chapel did not see the same formidable production against the Bulldogs as they did against Missouri State a week before. Jody Adams’ squad shot 39 percent from the field in the loss.
Rangie Bessard and Diamond Lockhart each scored 15 points, but the team’s efforts on defense wasn’t enough to match the Bulldogs. Four Drake players recorded double-digit points.
Drake had the advantage on the glass, besting Wichita State 38-27. They scored more in transition; the Bulldogs took the stat sheet 20-2.
On Sunday the Shockers looked to improve things against Northern Iowa in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Wichita State couldn’t find their mojo offensively to boast much of a contest. Back-to-back games against top-tier conference opponents made for a challenge for Adams’s youthful group.
Bessard led the stat sheet with 19 points and 11 rebounds.
Looking for any explosion on the offensive end, the Shockers focused their attention to generate scoring to keep pace with UNI.
The Panthers wore the Shockers down defensively. The Panthers shot 40 percent from the field and 37 percent from three-point range.
The Panthers ran a 9-0 run, putting the Shockers behind with a 20-point deficit.
Madison Weekly led the scoring for the Panthers with 19 points. UNI contends with Drake and Missouri State for the top spot in the Valley.
Wichita State returns home to face Bradley at 7 p.m Friday at Charles Koch Arena.
Nick Beach served as a reporter for The Sunflower. Beach served as a sports reporter and columnist, as well as a movie critic. Beach is from the coastal...
