More than 2,000 fans stood in a standing ovation Sunday afternoon as the Wichita State women’s basketball team cut the nets and hoisted up the Missouri Valley Conference Championship trophy after defeating the University of Northern Iowa Panthers 66-54.

It was the team’s third consecutive MVC title.

Toward the end of the second half, head coach Jody Adams got the news that Drake fell to Missouri State, giving Drake its third loss in the conference, which helped the Shockers clinch a third MVC title.

“Legacy, that’s what I’ll start with,” a teary eyed Adams said of winning her third straight MVC title. “To be able to not just win one championship but to win three — and to do them back-to-back-to-back — just doesn’t happen.

It’s one thing to build a program but to sustain it after winning the first championship and to get two more, that says a lot about our seniors and them believing in my vision.”

The Shockers were led by seniors Kelsey Jacobs, Alex Harden and Jamillah Bonner, who combined for 40 of the Shockers’ 66 points. The three seniors were honored at the end of the night for senior night.

From tip-off, Bonner played with a tenacity that was unmatched on both ends of the court. Fourteen of Bonner’s 23 points were within 14-feet of the basket, and she made four of her six free throw attempts.

Bonner — the smallest starter on both teams — crashed the glass relentlessly, contributing eight boards and a steal to add to her impressive offensive performance.

“I was excited to win the game,” Bonner said, “but once coach [Adams] told me we were conference champions, that really got me hyped. I decided to come to Wichita State because of Jody. I believed in her dream and what she was capable of doing as a coach. My goal was to win two championships while I was here, we have three now. It’s amazing.”

Through the first half of the game, the Panthers managed to hang close to the Shockers, but came out in the second half and shot themselves out of the game. The Shockers went on an 18-5 run as UNI continued to opt for the contested three-pointer instead of driving to the basket.

In one sequence, UNI’s guard Sharnae Lamar stripped the ball from Bonner mid-dribble, and was clear for an easy fast-break layup. That was until Lamar stopped abruptly, allowing three Shockers to make their way down court, and attempted a three-pointer that was blocked by Jaleesa Chapel.

The Shockers are on a seven-game winning streak and have two conference games remaining on their schedule. Should the Shockers win either of the two, they will win the title outright.

For now, the Shockers are the lone champions in the MVC for the third straight year, something Adams said didn’t happen by chance.

 “It’s amazing how things ended,” Adams said. “It’s not by luck. It’s by trust, belief and investment that we finished this way on our home court.”