Shocker Women's Second-Half Comeback to Missouri State Falls Short
Wichita State Ends Season in Quarterfinals
Shockers Rally from 13-Point Deficit But Ultimately Fall 78-73
WICHITA, Kan. – The Wichita State women's basketball team fought back from a 13-point second-half deficit to Missouri State on Saturday afternoon, but it wasn't enough as the Lady Bears held on for a 78-73 victory in the quarterfinals of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament at the TaxSlayer Center.
The Shockers, who were the No. 6 seed in the tournament, finished the season with a 20-12 record. The Lady Bears, the No. 3 seed, improved to 23-10 and advanced to the semifinals.
Wichita State trailed by 13 points with less than 10 minutes remaining in the second half, but the Shockers fought back with a 17-4 run to cut the deficit to two points.
The game was ultimately decided at the free throw line, where Missouri State made 21 of 26 attempts compared to Wichita State's 13 of 18.
Wichita State was led by Mariah McCully, who scored a team-high 23 points.
The Shockers shot 40.7% from the field and 33.3% from 3-point range, while Missouri State shot 48.1% from the field and 31.6% from 3-point range.
Wichita State finished the season with a winning record for the first time since the 2017-18 season.
The Shockers will return four starters next season, including McCully, who is one of the top players in the Missouri Valley Conference.
The future is bright for the Wichita State women's basketball program.
Here are some additional highlights from the game:
- Wichita State's bench outscored Missouri State's bench 18-8.
- The Shockers forced 13 turnovers, while Missouri State only forced 9.
- Wichita State was outrebounded by Missouri State 36-28.
What's Next?
The Lady Bears will face No. 2 seed Belmont in the semifinals on Sunday.
The Shockers will look to build on this season's success and make a run at the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament title next year.
Thanks for following along with our coverage of the Wichita State women's basketball team this season.
We hope you'll join us next year for more exciting action.
