Just as a ship captain navigates calm waters with the same focus as he navigates rough seas, Wichita State senior guard Alex Harden navigated WSU to a 65-56 win over the Creighton Bluejays at Charles Koch Arena Saturday afternoon.

Harden guided the Shockers with 28 points, five steals and a handful of clutch plays to prevent the Bluejays’ waves from ever controlling the game.

The game began with both teams struggling to settle into their offense and the flow of the game.

Harden’s offense started slowly, but teammate and junior forward Michaela Dapprich scored eight points in the first five minutes and helped give WSU an early 12-9 lead.

“We came out ready to play,” Dapprich said. “We knew who we were up against. We came out to compete, outwork. We have perseverance on the court.”

After an early timeout, WSU played better defense, ran the offense and controlled the next 10 minutes of the half.

Toward the end of the run, Harden intercepted a Creighton pass, dribbled, juked left and made a 12-foot jumper.

Creighton fought back with timely threes from their junior guard, and Big East Player of the Year, Marissa Janning. Janning finished with 18 points.

The half ended with Creighton down by only five, 30-25.

To start the second half, Creighton exploited WSU’s aggressive man defense, with a series of smooth pick-and-rolls that gave their post players easy layups.

Following a three, the Bluejays took their first lead since the opening of the game, 32-33.

WSU called a timeout.

The game was even for the next five minutes. WSU regained the lead, but again Creighton made a three to lead 44-45.

Harden began to navigate.

Harden answered the three with a layup. WSU forced a turnover, and she scored again.

Next possession, WSU guard Alie Decker cut underneath a Creighton defender for an offensive rebound under the basket. Decker lobbed the ball to Harden, who took it to the top of the key.

Harden called out a play while tapping the top of her head, but then stepped back and drained a 20-foot jumper.

“[My] teammates gave me the confidence,” Harden said. “They told me to be aggressive and take the shot. They trust me to shoot it, and I trust myself.”

50-45.

WSU scored nine points to complete the 15-0 run.

The game ended with Creighton making some threes and having to put WSU on the line in an attempt to come back.

WSU head coach Jody Adams commended her team during the post-game press conference.

“This whole team stepped up, everybody who played stepped up at one point or another,” Adams said.