Wichita State Hosts Cincinnati in AAC Opener

Wichita State (10-3, 0-0) vs. Cincinnati (7-6, 0-0)

Friday, Dec. 30, 2022 | 6:00 PM CT | Charles Koch Arena

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ON THE AIR
Friday’s game can be heard online at GoShockers.com/Listen with Steve Strain calling the action. Strain is in his ninth season as the radio voice for Wichita State women’s basketball. The game will also be televised on ESPN+ and the ESPN app.

LAST TIME OUT

Wichita State broke a 41-year old school record in a 105-38 thrashing of South Carolina State Tuesday night. The 67-point win marked the largest in school history, besting the record of 64 set in 1981 vs. Phillips. The 105 points were two shy of a school record and the 28 assists were the most in the Keitha Adams era. Wichita State shot a season-high 60.3 percent from the field and held SC State to 21.3 percent. Ambah Kowcun and Jeniah Thompson both set season highs with 14 points apiece. Thompson also dished out a season-high five assists. Jane Asinde and DJ McCarty chipped in 12 points each and Trajata Colbert added 10.

SCOUTING THE BEARCATS

Led by fifth year head coach Michelle Clark-Heard, Cincinnati enters Friday’s matchup at 7-6 this season. The Bearcats are scoring just 66.8 points per game on 40.3 percent shooting. They are one of the league’s top shooting teams from long range at 34.7 percent. Cincinnati ranks in the top 40 nationally in free throws made and attempted and offensive rebounds. Jillian Hayes does it all for the Bearcats, leading the team in scoring (15.0), rebounding (8.5), blocks (21) and steals (23). Mya Jackson has dished out a team-leading 43 assists to go with 13.4 points.

THE SERIES VS. CINCINNATI

Wichita State and Cincinnati have met seven times prior to Friday, but the series dates all the way back to the first meeting on Dec. 9, 1983. The Shockers have won back-to-back games in the series after dropping the first five. Wichita State is seeking its first-ever win vs. the Bearcats in Wichita.

LAST MEETING

Behind a big second quarter, Wichita State recorded a 76-66 win at Cincinnati on Jan. 13, 2022. Despite missing 15-of-16 attempts from beyond the arc and Cincinnati going 8-for-25, Wichita State was able to get to the free throw line 25 times. Jane Asinde scored a team-high 17 points to go with six rebounds and four steals. Seraphine Bastin added 14 points and seven rebounds, while going 10-for-11 at the free throw line. DJ McCarty scored 13 points off the bench and Asia Strong chipped in 12.

JANE GOT GAME

Wichita State senior Jane Asinde has been unstoppable for the Shockers. The Uganda native has double-doubles in five of the 11 games she’s played in, including back-to-back 20-point double-doubles at the LMU Thanksgiving Classic. Asinde opened the LMU Thanksgiving Classic with a career-high 19 rebounds to go with 20 points against Montana and followed that with a career-high 22 points and 15 rebounds vs. Loyola Marymount. She also has double digit rebounds in six of the 11 games.

GETTING DEFENSIVE

Wichita State boasts a top 70 defense through the first 13 games of the season. They have held all but three opponents to less than 38 percent shooting, and only four teams have shot better than 30 percent from three-point range. Wichita State’s field goal defense is holding teams to just 34.9 percent, good for 25th nationally. Opponents are connecting on only 28.4 percent of their attempts from long range.

GLASS CLEANERS      

Wichita State is one of the top rebounding teams in the country once again this season. Through 13 games Wichita State ranks 21st nationally in rebound margin, 24th in defensive rebounds per game and 45th in total rebounds per game. The Shockers have outrebounded 11 of their 13 opponents.

HUGE WIN

In Wichita State’s 105-38 win over South Carolina State on Dec. 27, the Shockers broke a 41-year old school record for largest margin of victory. Wichita State won by 67, besting the previous mark of 64 set in 1981 vs. Phillips. It also marked just the second 100-point game of the Keitha Adams era, two points shy of the school record for most points in a game. Wichita State’s 28 assists were also the most of the Adams era. Wichita State’s field goal percentage of 60.3 was the highest since Feb. 2018 when the Shockers shot a school record 70.0 percent vs. Temple in Charles Koch Arena. Wichita State did set Charles Koch Arena records for points (105), field goals made (38) and assists (28).

COLBERT CASHING IN      

Trajata Colbert has improved dramatically the last two years at the free throw line. The Georgia native began her career shooting 42.1 percent as a freshman, 61.1 percent as a sophomore and 50.9 percent as a COVID sophomore. In 2021-22 she shot a career-high 76.0 percent and so far through 13 games in 2022-23, she is 45-for-53 (84.9 percent). Colbert ranks second in the American in free throw percentage.

EXTRA TIME NEEDED

Wichita State needed overtime in two of its first five games of the season. The Shockers fell in overtime at Omaha on Nov. 12, but collected an overtime win vs. Montana on Nov. 25. Wichita State is 4-4 in overtime games under Keitha Adams. Wichita State is 21-24 all-time in overtime games.

BEST START IN SCHOOL HISTORY

Wichita State’s 8-1 record to open the season marked the best start in program history. The Shockers got there behind a seven-game win streak. The seven-game win streak was the longest since 2015 when Wichita State won 12 in a row.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

Through 13 games Wichita State ranks in the top 70 nationally in the following categories: No. 21 in rebound margin (10.5), No. 24 in defensive rebounds (29.9), No. 25 in field goal defense (34.9), No. 28 in free throws made per game (15.3), No. 45 in rebounds per game (42.3), No. 54 in free throw attempts per game (20.5), No. 57 in fouls per game (14.8) and No. 63 in free throw percentage (74.8). Jane Asinde ranks 14th nationally in defensive rebounds per game, No. 16 in rebounds per game, No. 26 in total rebounds and No. 30 in double-doubles.

WANTED FOR THEFT

Junior guard DJ McCarty and senior forward Jane Asinde have been a pest on defense for opposing offenses through 13 games. McCarty has recorded at least one steal in all but one game, and has multiple in seven of the 13 games. Her 24 steals are the most on the team and she ranks 8th in the American Athletic Conference. Asinde averages a team-high 2.0 steals a game and has multiple steals in six games this season.

A SHOCKER WIN WOULD…

… make them 11-3 on the season

… make them 7-1 at home this season

… move them to 3-5 all-time vs. Cincinnati

… be their third straight win vs. the Bearcats

… bring Keitha Adams‘ record to 73-81 at Wichita State

… make Adams 357-290 at the Division I level

… run Adams’ career coaching record to 484-327

… make them 393-249 all-time in Charles Koch Arena

… make Wichita State 643-729 all-time

A SHOCKER LOSS WOULD…

… make them 10-4 this the season

… drop them to 6-2 at home this season

… make them 2-6 all-time vs. Cincinnati

… bring Keitha Adams‘ record to 72-82 at Wichita State

… make Adams 356-291 at the Division I level

… lower Adams’ career coaching record to 483-328

… make them 392-250 all-time in Charles Koch Arena

… make Wichita State 642-730 all-time

UP NEXT

Wichita State hits the road for its conference opener on Wednesday, Jan. 4 at Tulsa.