The Wichita State women’s basketball team made a statement Sunday with an 88-47 victory in its first exhibition game against Harding University. 

Each of WSU’s players contributed double-digit minutes and scored four or more points. But coach Jody Adams said the team has room for improvement and things to work on before the start of its regular season in two weeks. 

“I think everyone is beginning to establish a role, and your role you never want to stay the same,” Adams said. “You want it to continue to grow as you get older through the year.” 

Defense was a strength for the Shockers, forcing 29 turnovers. But the offense gave up 14 turnovers, and Harding outrebounded the Shockers 32-27. 

“We’re known as being a physical team and disruptive with our pressure,” Adams said. “I just thought that when the shot went up we spaced out and we didn’t finish the job—a few times, 14 times actually.”

Alex Harden led the team on offense with 14 points, as well as on defense with five steals. 

“I think Alex could be an All-American to be quite honest; she’s just that caliber of athlete,” Adams said. “She has length, she has the ability to jump, she has the ability to run—it’s just deciding to want to and ‘who do I want to be.’”

Freshman Alie Decker earned 14 minutes on Sunday and scored two of four 3-pointers, a role she and fellow newcomer Darice Fountaine have adopted, according to Adams.

“Both of them are shooters, so both of them are going to shoot the ball when it hits their hands, or should,” Adams said. “Their role is to shoot the ball, to stretch the defense.”

Fountaine is a senior transfer from Savannah State University, where she played two years. She earned 24 minutes and added six points and two assists for the Shockers. Chynna Turner led the team in rebounds with five, while Michelle Price and Jazimen Gordon added double-digit points with 11 and 10, respectively.

“I do think this is the deepest team we’ve had so far,” senior Jessica Diamond said. “Everybody has their role and as we learn our roles and get better at them, understand them more, it allows us to be able to play all 12.”

Despite a stellar defensive performance, Adams’ unmet expectations resonated through the team after the game. 

“Defensively I think we should be first in every stat,” Harden said. “I feel like we had a good defensive game, but the high expectations from our coach shows the potential that we have.”

The Shockers will play their second exhibition game next Sunday, Nov. 4, against the University of Central Oklahoma. Their regular season gets underway Nov. 11, on the road against Louisiana State.