The Shockers posted their third win of the season under first-year head coach Keitha Adams in a home game against the University of Missouri-Kansas City on Dec. 9. Wichita State had four players in double-figures to lead the team in its 72-63 win over the Kangaroos.
Shocker forward Rangie Bessard finished with a team-high 19 points and 10 rebounds for her second double-double of the season. Those 19 points moved Bessard into 19th place on the Shocker all-time scoring list, passing Keomi Johnson (1,037 points).
Wichita State’s win also took the shine off UMKC head coach Jacie Hoyt’s return to the Roundhouse. Hoyt ’09, who was named the 10th head coach in UMKC women’s basketball history on May 11, 2017, posted a solid playing career as a Shocker from 2006 to 2009, starting every game as a point guard in her final two seasons at WSU.
The Shockers’ other two wins were collected in games against the University of California-Irvine, 76-53 on Nov. 26, and Missouri State, 72-58 on Nov. 29.
In that Nov. 29 game against their old Missouri Valley Conference rivals, the Shockers finished with 16 assists on 24 baskets, one game after recording a season-high 20 assists in their win over UC Irvine. After not shooting better than 40 percent or scoring more than 67 points in their first six games, the Shockers made 57.6 percent of their shots against UC Irvine, and that Shocker motion offense kept clicking against the Bears – and returned to jump past the Kangaroos on Dec. 9.
As the season continues, Coach Adams, who came to WSU from a successful 16-year stint at UTEP, is solidly set to develop her team’s winning ways.
