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| No. 32 Carlesa Dixon, now a junior, is the team’s top returning scorer from a year ago, averaging 13.9 points a game. |
Fifth-year Wichita State women’s basketball coach Darryl Smith describes the 2002-03 team as “tough and tenacious.” Although the Shockers lost Jennifer Kaczka, one of the top players in the history of the WSU women’s basketball program, the core of the team returns from last year’s squad, which posted a 14-15 record and finished sixth in the Missouri Valley Conference with an 8-10 record.
Back and ready to make a run for the Shockers’ first MVC championship under Smith are juniors Carlesa Dixon, Angela Buckner, Tisharria Huggins and senior Raeven King, who all ranked among the top 10 in The Valley in several statistical categories.
The Shockers’ schedule is one of the toughest since Smith took over the program. WSU, which will play its home games at O’Shaughnessy Hall on the Newman University campus, will face six teams that made appearances in the postseason a year ago. Two of the Shockers’ three home nonconference dates come against Big 12 opponents, including rematches with NCAA national runner-up Oklahoma and in-state rival Kansas.
All 2002-03 home games will be played at O’Shaughnessy Hall, Newman University. All times are Central Standard Time.
Thu., Nov. 7, Sports Tours, 7 p.m.
Sun., Nov. 17, Basketball Travellers, 2 p.m.
Tue., Nov. 26, at Oklahoma State, Stillwater, 7 p.m.
Fri., Nov. 29, at Stephen F. Austin (Texas-San Antonio
Tournament), San Antonio, 5 p.m.
Sat., Nov. 30, at Texas-San Antonio (Texas-San
Antonio Tournament), San Antonio, 6 p.m.
Thu., Dec. 5, at New Mexico State, Las Cruces, 7 p.m.
Sat., Dec. 7, at Northern Arizona, Flagstaff, 7 p.m.
Mon., Dec. 9, University of Oklahoma, 7 p.m.
Wed., Dec. 11, University of Kansas, 7 p.m.
Sat., Dec. 14, at Wisconsin-Green Bay, Green Bay,
3 p.m.
Sat., Dec. 21, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 7 p.m.
Fri., Jan. 3, at Evansville*, Evansville, Ind., 7 p.m.
Sun., Jan 5, at Southern Illinois*, Carbondale, 2 p.m.
Fri., Jan. 10, Creighton*, 7 p.m.
Sun., Jan. 12, Drake*, 2 p.m.
Thu., Jan. 16, at Indiana State*, Terra Haute, 7 p.m.
Sat., Jan. 18, at Illinois State*, Normal, 7:05 p.m.
Thu., Jan. 23, Bradley*, 7 p.m.
Sun., Jan. 26, Northern Iowa*, 2 p.m.
Thu., Jan. 30, Southwest Missouri State*, 7 p.m.
Fri., Feb. 7, at Drake*, Des Moines, Iowa, 7:05 p.m.
Sun., Feb. 9, at Creighton*, Omaha, Neb., 3:05 p.m.
Thu., Feb. 13, Indiana State*, 7 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 15, Illinois State*, 7 p.m.
Thu., Feb. 20, at Bradley*, Peoria, Ill., 7:05 p.m.
Sun., Feb. 23, at Northern Iowa*, Cedar Falls, Iowa,
3:05 p.m.
Sun., March 2, at SMS*, Springfield, Mo., 3 p.m.
Thu., March 6, Evansville*, 7 p.m.
Sun., March 9, Southern Illinois*, 2 p.m.
Thu., March 13, Missouri Valley Conference
Tournament-Session One, Des Moines, Iowa,
12 p.m./2:30 p.m.
Thu., March 13, MVC Tournament-Session Two,
Des Moines, Iowa, 6 p.m./8:30 p.m.
Fri., March 14, MVC Tournament-Semifinals,
Des Moines, Iowa, 6 p.m./8:30 p.m.
Sat., March 15, MVC Tournament-Championship
Game, Des Moines, Iowa, 3 p.m.
Sat.-Sun, March 22-23, NCAA Championships-First
Round, TBA.
Mon.-Tue., March 24-25, NCAA Championships-
Second Round, TBA.
March 30-April 1, NCAA Regional Championships, TBA.
Sun.-Tue., April 6-8, NCAA Final Four Championships,
Atlanta, Ga., TBA.
* Missouri Valley Conference game
