Wichita State Women’s Basketball Dominates Newman in Exhibition
The Wichita State Shockers women’s basketball team defeated Newman University 96-49 in an exhibition game yesterday evening, showcasing a strong performance ahead of their regular season opener.
The Shockers jumped to an early lead, finishing the first quarter up 26-11, and maintained control throughout the game. Head coach Terry Nooner expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, stating, “I’m happy we got a chance…We scored a lot of points, got to play against a different opponent, played as a team, shared the basketball and did a good job in winning the rebounding battle.” The team’s reliance on experienced graduate students – five of whom started the game – proved to be a key factor in their success.
Transfer guard Jaila Harding, a Wichita native, made an immediate impact, contributing several early three-pointers. “My teammates are like, ‘How you feel Jaila? You’re here at home for the first game,’” Harding said. “So I was just excited to go out there. And that’s what I do in practice every day, so I was ready to knock it down.” Wichita State’s aggressive defense also played a crucial role, forcing turnovers and creating fastbreak opportunities; a strong defensive presence is often a hallmark of successful college basketball programs, as detailed by the NCAA. The Shockers were able to capitalize on 37 free throw attempts throughout the game.
The victory provides a confidence boost for Wichita State as they prepare to begin their regular season. The team will face Lincoln (Mo.) at 6 p.m. in Koch Arena, marking the official start of their 2024-25 campaign; you can find the full Wichita State Women’s Basketball schedule on the official athletics website. Nooner emphasized the importance of their ability to get to the free-throw line, noting it was an area they struggled with in a recent closed scrimmage.
