In the 2013-14 Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll, Wichita State women’s basketball was not expected to headline the championship game with a favor over Illinois State taking it all. On Saturday, the teams met in the semifinals of the post-season tournament and the Shockers proved the poll wrong with a 66-50 win over the Redbirds.

“I thought my team did the tough things well today,” Head coach Jody Adams said. “They didn’t let the little things deflate them.”

Junior Alex Harden led the Shockers with 15 points, five steals, two blocks and six rebounds. Senior Michelle Price contributed 13 points and sophomore Michaela Dapprich added 12 of her own.

Although Harden and sophomore Jamillah Bonner did not put up the figures they had hoped, they found motivation from the bench to find another way to help the team pull off the win.

“Coaches and our teammates kept telling us ‘keep your head up,’ ‘work on defense,’ …  ‘work for your teammates,’ ‘if you’re not making shots, pass it to someone that is,” Harden said.

Last season, the pair met in the championship game where the Shockers brought the title home. With the confidence following the second consecutive regular-season title and capping the first games of the tournament, the team is prepared for the next challenge and is ready to cut down the nets at the final buzzer. 

“We’re ready,” Harden said. “Every team gives you a new challenge after playing them two times already. Come aggressive, don’t underestimate anybody and we will have a good 40 minutes.”

The team will compete for the tournament championship title at 2:05 tomorrow against Drake.