Shockers Look to End Losing Streak vs. SMU

Wichita State (11-7, 1-4) vs. SMU (12-5, 3-2)
Wednesday January 18, 2023 | 6:00 p.m. CT | Charles Koch Arena
ESPN+ | GoShockers.com/Listen | ShockerStats.com

Wednesday’s game can be heard online at GoShockers.com/Listen with Steve Strain announcing the action. Strain is in his ninth season as a radio voice for Wichita State women’s basketball. The game will also be broadcast on ESPN+ and the ESPN app.

LAST TIME-OUT
Wichita State lost its fourth straight game at the American Athletic Conference on Sunday, losing 59-56 to UCF in Orlando. In the last regular season meeting with UCF as members of the American, the Shockers failed to record a win in the series, losing all seven games to the Knights. Wichita State forced a season high of 23 turnovers but also set a season high of 23. Jane Asinde scored all 13 of her points after halftime with eight rebounds. Trajata Colbert tied a team-high with 13 points and added seven rebounds and a season-high three blocks. Ambah Kowcun made her first career start, going 3-of-4 from beyond the arc to finish with 11 points. DJ McCarty recorded a career-high six steals with 10 points. Except for the four double digits Shamarya Duncan was the only other shocker to score in the game, ending with 9 points off the bench.

RECOGNIZING THE MUSTANGS
Led by sophomore head coach Toyelle Wilson, SMU goes 12-5 this season and 3-2 in the American Game into Wednesday’s matchup. SMU only allows 57.9 points per game and opponents only shoot 37.0 percent from the field. The Mustangs also average 8.8 steals a game on the defensive end. Jasmine Smith leads SMU in score (14.0) and assists (4.4) while shooting 41.5 percent from beyond the arc. Chantae Embry is the second-best scorer and rebounder with 12.2 points and 6.8 rebounds. Savannah Wilkinson pulls down with 7.9 rebounds leading the team to go with 9.5 points.

THE SERIES VS. SMU
Wichita State and SMU met 11 times before Wednesday’s matchup, with the Shockers leading nearly 6-5. The Shockers are 4-1 against the SMU in Wichita. Wichita State is aiming for two wins over the Mustangs for the first time since 2018.

LAST MEETING
Wichita State won the only meeting prior to a season on February 12, 2022 at Charles Koch Arena. The Shockers followed in fourth place with three players, but outperformed the Mustangs 22-8 in the closing stages to win 58-47. Wichita State passed the Mustangs by 13 and went 14 of 17 at the free throw line. Defensively, the Shockers held SMU to just 3 of 13 from across the arc. Mariah McCully led an even scoring attack with a team-high 13 points. Asia strong added 12 and Jane Asinde recorded a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

GET DEFENSIVE
Wichita State has a top-70 defense in its first 18 games of the season. They’ve kept all but six opponents to less than 38 percent shot, and only five teams shot more than 32 percent from three-point range. Wichita State’s field goal defense keeps teams at just 36.5 percent, which is good for 44th statewide. Opponents only connect on 29.0 percent of their long-range attempts. Wichita State has held seven opponents under 60 points, including three under 50.

TALENTED TRIO

Jane Asinde, DJ McCarty and Trajata Colbert form a powerful trio for the Shockers. All three are averaging double digits on the season and averaging 35.5 points per game on offense combined. On the glass, they’re bringing down a combined 22.0 rebounds per game. On the defensive end, the trio account for 63.0 percent (85 steals) of the team’s steals this season and 59.3 percent (32 blocks) of the team’s blocks.

SEE DOUBLE
Wichita State Senior Jane Asinde is averaging double-doubles with 11.3 points and 10.9 rebounds in 18 games this season. The Ugandan native is on track to end the season with a top-10 rebound mark in a season. Her current 10.9 boards per game would rank as the sixth-most in school history. She is also trying to become the first shocker to hit a double-double over the course of a season since Antionette Wells had 13.0 points and 10.4 rebounds in the 2006-07 season.

WANTED FOR THEFT
junior guard DJ McCarty and senior striker Jane Asinde have been a nuisance on defense for opposing attacks in 18 games. McCarty has recorded at least one steal in all but three games and multiple in 10 of the 18 games. Her 37 steals are the most on the team. Asinde is second on the team with 33 steals and an average of 2.06 steals per game and has multiple steals in nine games this season. They place 3rd and 9th in the American in steals, respectively.

COLBERT DEPOSITS

Trajata Colbert has improved dramatically at the free-throw line over the past two years. The Georgia native started her career 42.1 percent as a freshman, 61.1 percent as a sophomore and 50.9 percent as a COVID sophomore. She posted a career-high 76.0 percent in 2021-22 and is 55-68 (80.9 percent) in 18 games in 2022-23. Colbert ranks third in America’s free throw percentage.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKS
After 18 games, Wichita State ranks in the top 70 nationally in the following categories: #31 in rebound margin (7.8), #44 in field goal defense (36.5), #49 in rebounds per game (40.94), #57 defensive rebounds per game (27.8), and #61 fouls per game (14.9). Jane Asinde ranks 20th nationally in defensive rebounds per game, #11 in rebounds per game, #16 in total rebounds, and #48 in double doubles.

A SHOCKER WIN WOULD…
… make them 12-7 in the season
… make them 2-4 in the conference game
… make them 8-2 at home this season
…move them to 7-5 all-time vs. SMU
… bring Keitha Adams‘Record at 74-85 in Wichita State
…Adams make 358-294 at the Division I level
… bringing Adam’s career coaching record to 485-331
…they go 394-250 all-time at Charles Koch Arena
… make Wichita State 644-733 all the time

A SHOCKER LOSS WOULD…
… make them 11-8 this season
… make them 1-5 in the conference game
… drop them to 7-3 at home this season
…they make 6-6 all time against SMU
… bring Keitha Adams‘Record at 73-86 in the state of Wichita
…do Adams 357-295 at the Division I level
… lower Adams’ career coaching record to 484-332
…they go 393-251 all-time at Charles Koch Arena
… make Wichita State 643-734 all the time

NEXT
Wichita State closes out on January 21 at 2 p.m. with a Saturday afternoon matchup against the East Carolina Pirates