Shocker women dominate second half, end skid

For the first time in almost a week, the Wichita State women’s basketball team had a win to celebrate.

It came against a winless team, but it was a win and that’s something for WSU to savor.

Jessica Diamond had 19 points and six rebounds, Kelsey Jacobs added 10 points and three blocks and the Shockers (3-4) pulled away in the second half to beat the Grambling State Tigers (0-5), 62-44, snapping a three-game losing streak and ensuring they will finish their first month of the season just one game under .500.

“Not a very pretty first half, but things got much better for us in the second half,” coach Jody Adams said.

Indeed, the first half wasn’t pretty offensively. WSU struggled to get in any sort offensive rhythm against a team playing its fifth straight road game. It didn’t attack the Tigers’ zone defense and were content with moving the ball around the perimeter looking for an open three-pointer. The Shockers also had 15 turnovers to just nine made field goals.

WSU felt like they had to address what they described as their “lackadaisical” play. So they came out of the locker room and did passing drills during second half warm-ups.

The Shockers outscored the Tigers 37-23 in the second half, while shooting an efficient 54 percent from the field.

“There wasn’t much talk, it was just details making good passes, being in triple threat,” Chynna Turner said. “Stuff that is elementary to us is what we had to address. After that we had to do passing drills, I think our energy was a big factor too.”

WSU led 25-21 at halftime, and then started the second half on a 14-10 run to lead 41-31.

Jacobs’ first career three capped another 8-2 spurt for a 49-33 Shocker lead and the Tigers never posed a threat after that.

“When we do the details and we have a tough mentality we’re capable of a lot, we can be a great team if we focus on details and that’s what this team has to get better at,” Diamond said.