Cali Dreamin’: Shockers ready for LMU Thanksgiving Classic

State of Wichita (3-1) vs. Montana (2-2)
Friday, 11/25/2022 | 5:30 p.m. CT | Barley Pavilion
KNSS 98.7FM/1330AM

IN THE AIR
The Friday and Saturday game can be heard on the radio on KNSS 98.7 FM/1330 AM with Steve Strain announcing the action. Strain is in his ninth season as a radio voice for Wichita State women’s basketball. Saturday’s game against LMU will be streamed online at LMULions.com.

LAST TIME-OUT
The state of Wichita recorded the biggest comeback of the Keitha Adams Era last Saturday against North Texas. The Shockers were down 17 points at halftime, but surpassed Mean Green 33-12 in the second half and won 57-53 at the Charles Koch Arena. After allowing 41 points on nearly 60 percent shooting in the first half, the tide turned Wichita State turned the tables, holding North Texas on 4-of-27 shots to 12 points in the second half. Quincy Noble of North Texas outplayed Wichita State 25-24 in the first half alone, but finished with just five points in the second half. Jane Asinde scored 10 of their 13 points in the third quarter to change momentum. Curtessia Dean 12 points added and Trajata Colbert pulled down a game high of 11 rebounds.

DECLARATION OF THE GRIZ & LIONS
Montana is 2-2 in four games this season and Loyola Marymount is 1-3. Sammy Fatkin goes with Montana in scoring and rebounding pace at 17.3 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. Gina Marxen adds 14.0 points per game along with a team-high 17 assists. As a team, Montana averages 68.5 points and overshoots 31.3 percent. For Loyola, Marymount, Alexis Mark and Ariel Johnson have 11.8 and 11.5 points per game, respectively. The Lions score 56.0 points per game but allow 76.0 with 47.8 percent shot on goal. Loyola is just 12-of-60 from three-point range in four games.

THE SERIES VS. MONTANA
This is the first-ever meeting between the state of Wichita and Montana.

THE SERIES VS. LOYOLA MARYMOUNT
This is the first-ever meeting between the State of Wichita and Loyola Marymount.

TRAJATA ON TREND
Wichita State Senior Trajata Colbert was the most consistent shocker in the first four games of the season. Colbert has scored 10 or more points in three of the four games and is second on the team at 13.3 points per game, which would easily be a career high. In addition to her three double-digit scoring games, Colbert also has two double-digit rebound games. She had 10 in the opener against Alcorn State and 11 against North Texas on November 19.

TEXAS-BIG COMEBACK
Wichita State made the biggest comeback in history Keitha Adams Era on November 19 against North Texas. The Shockers were down 17 (41-24) at halftime, but edged Mean Green by 33-12 in the second half. Wichita State’s 17-point deficit surpassed the previous high of 16 against Tulsa on Jan. 15, 2020.

JANE MAKES SEASON DEBUT
Senior Jane Asinde made her 2022-23 season debut on Wednesday November 16 at Oral Roberts. All she did was her 10th career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. She is the active double-double leader for the state of Wichita, followed by Trajata Colbert with seven.

CAREER AFTERNOONS AT OMAHA
Despite losing in Omaha on November 12, two Wichita State players set new career records. Shamarya Duncan scored 13 of her career-best 17 points after halftime behind a perfect evening from three-point range. Duncan was 3-for-3 and was the only shocker to tie a triple in the contest. DJ McCarty notched a career-high 11 rebounds and also handed out a career-high six assists.

CAREER CHARTS
Wichita State Senior Trajata Colbert enters the season on the Wichita State career charts for field goal percentage. Her career field goal percentage of 51.0 is 10th, trailing Theresa Dreiling’s 51.8 percent in ninth place. Colbert also needs 18 blocked shots this season to crack Wichita State’s top 10 list. She starts with 73 career blocks, place 10 is currently 91.

COLBERT DEPOSITS
Senior 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 after three games in 2022-23 she is 13-15 (86.7 percent).

OVERTIME AT OMAHA
Wichita State went into overtime on Nov. 12 in Omaha, marking the seventh time under the head coach Keitha Adams The Shockers played an OT contest. Wichita State is 3-4 in these games. Wichita State is 20-24 all time in overtime games.

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE TO THE BANK
head coach Keitha Adams reinforced their coaching staff during the off-season with the hiring of Jim Littlell as an assistant coach. Littell spent the last 11 seasons as head coach at Oklahoma State and the six years before that as assistant head coach for the Cowgirls. He averaged a 204-140 record in his 11 seasons as the Cowgirls head coach. Littell was a two-time Big 12 Coach of the Year (2016, 2021) while leading Oklahoma State to six NCAA tournament appearances, one WNIT title and seven Cowgirls who achieved All-America status under his leadership. However, Adams and Littell are no strangers. Adams and Littell first met at Oxford High School. Adams was on the Oxford basketball team, where she played for Littell, and the two have maintained a close friendship over the years. Littell was the head coach at Oxford High School from 1978 to 1983 before building a strength center at Seward County Community College from 1991 to 2004.

INTERNATIONAL FLAVOUR
For the sixth consecutive season, the Shocker basketball team will feature multiple players from international countries. The Shockers 2022-23 will feature eight student-athletes from international countries, the most in school history. Jane Asinde (Kampala, Uganda) Carla Budane (Maputo, Mozambique), Nhug Bosch Duran (Barcelona, ​​Spain) and Tatiana Platonova (Moscow, Russia) return to the program after one season. They are joined by newcomers: Daniela Abies (Malaga, Spain), Ambah Kowcun (Adelaide, Australia) Ornella Niankan (Montreal, Canada) and Raissa Nsabua (Ottawa, Canada). In the 12 seasons before that Keitha Adams Taking over the program, the state of Wichita had an international player (Marija Pacar). Under Adams, 20 international players representing 13 different countries have played for the Shockers in just six seasons. Associate head coach Eva Laskowska is at the forefront of international recruitment thanks to her hometown of Stalowa Wola, Poland.

A SHOCKER WIN WOULD…
… make them 4-1 on the season
… make them 1-0 on a neutral pitch this season
… make them 2-1 away this season
… move them to an all-time 1-0 against Montana
… bring them to an all-time 1-0 against Loyola Marymount
… bring Keitha Adams‘Record on 66-79 in the state of Wichita
…Adams make 350-288 at the Division I level
… bringing Adam’s career coaching record to 477-325
… make Wichita State 636-727 all the time

A SHOCKER LOSS WOULD…
… make them 3:2 this season
… dropped them 0-1 on a neutral pitch this season
…drop them to 1-2 on the road this season
… make them 0-1 all-time against Montana
… make them 0-1 all time against Loyola Marymount
… bring Keitha Adams‘Record at 65-80 in Wichita State
…Adams make 349-289 at the Division I level
… lower Adams’ career coaching record to 476-326
… make Wichita State 635-728 all the time

NEXT
Wichita State closes out the month of November on Nov. 30 at home against Denver at 6 p.m