Braves hand Shocker women first conference loss

Wichita State guard Jessica Diamond drives to the basket in the first half against Bradley on Feb. 10. 

It was the kind of performance typically seen by the Wichita State women’s basketball team this year—outscoring its opponents in the paint and using turnovers to fuel its transition game.

But, the Bradley Braves (10-12, 4-7 Missouri Valley Conference) were the team to pull it off on Sunday against WSU.

Bradley’s Katie Yohn scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, Shronda Butts scored 19 points and the Braves ended the Shockers’  (16-7, 10-1 MVC) 10-game winning streak in remarkable fashion, beating them 75-55.

The Braves keyed in their trapping pressure on the Shocker ball-handlers, which forced WSU into 17 turnovers and led to 21 points.

“We weren’t shocked by it. We knew we were going to be trapped at some point and time. That is part of their game plan—to throw a trap here or there and get a turnover so they can score quick,” Shockers’ coach Jody Adams said. “I just thought we did not have the right mentality today.”

The 75 points that the Braves scored were the most allowed by WSU this season—something Shocker fans aren’t used to seeing from the nation’s 12th-ranked defense.

The Braves seemed to have an answer for every Shocker run.  After pulling within one point, Butts banked in a contested three-pointer at the end of the shot clock in the second half.

The Shockers tied the game at 45 before a driving lay-up and a free throw by Bradley guard Michelle Young gave the Braves the lead back. Then, the Shockers pulled within 50-47, but a three-pointer by Catie O’Leary gave the Braves a six-point lead.

Guard penetration was the story all game long, leading to open shots for Bradley.

“One on one penetration was an emphasis and they got to the rim,” WSU guard Jessica Diamond said. “Stopping them in transition was an emphasis and they ran on us.”

The Shockers were still within striking distance with 7:31 remaining in the game, but three three-pointers helped fuel a 13-2 run to swell the Bradley lead to 66-49.

“Bottom line, we just didn’t do our game plan at all and there’s one thing we’ve had for 10 games and that’s trust,” Adams said. “We trust one another, not that this breaks our trust, it just teaches us a lesson.”

Diamond, who scored 10 points and handed out three assists, had just one field goal in the second half.

The Shockers play again Thursday at Drake.