The Lady Toppers’ electric performance in the third quarter pushed them to a tight victory in overtime against the Wichita State University Shockers.
A second-half change of playstyle allowed WKU to make a 14-3 scoring run in the third quarter. The team clawed its way back from a 15-point deficit and stopped itself from losing two games in a row.
The win was much needed after the team dropped its first road game against the Longwood Lancers 80-42. WKU performed poorly in Virginia and doubled down on previous issues. Thirty turnovers and 1-21 three-point shooting killed the team’s chance at winning.
But against Wichita, the team rallied together to eke out a victory.
WKU and WSU’s quests for victory lasted to the bitter end. Both teams fought tooth and nail to emerge triumphant over the other, but the Shockers inevitably fell short of winning.
Strengths on the court
The Lady Toppers’ win was largely due to an impressive offensive showing in the second half.
Senior Forward Zsofia Telegdy started on the court, but was pulled out after only two minutes. A key component of WKU’s offensive comeback was the third-quarter return of Telegdy. She played all 10 minutes of the quarter and posted nine points on three of three shooting in that time.
At the end of the night, her playing netted her 12 points, two rebounds and an assist. The stats don’t tell the full story, however.
Telegdy’s return was key to WKU’s resurgence. Her presence seemed to boost the team’s morale, and she brought a level-headedness to their playing.
Another standout was sophomore guard Torri James. She’s been a valuable asset for the Lady Toppers since game one, but this game got to see her finally shine. James posted 16 points and six rebounds. Granted, 12 points came from the free throw line, but it’s impressive nonetheless.
Senior forward Jennifer Silva was a leader on both sides of the court. For Silva, the win came with an impressive stat line. 17 points and 10 rebounds took her to a double-double that was complemented well by four blocks.
Head Coach Greg Collins said in the post-game press conference that the double-double wasn’t what impressed him most about Silva’s stat sheet. His pride came instead from her single turnover.
The game’s true MVP was senior guard Tia Shelling. In her 42 minutes, she posted six assists and a career-high of 20 points. She led the offense anytime her feet touched the court.
What truly saved the Lady Toppers was the change of game plan from Collins. Midway through the third quarter, there seemed to be new life in WKU.
The offense was slow and deliberate, which complemented the defense’s switch to a high-pressure 2-3 zone. Every aspect of the Lady Toppers’ playstyle was elevated, and led them to a 14-3 scoring run to close out the third quarter.
WKU’s victory was only made possible by the collaboration between Collins and his players.
A battle on the body
Wichita State made a vicious opponent. During the game, they accrued 25 fouls, more than double WKU’s 12.
Both graduate guard Taya Davis and junior forward Jaida McDonald fouled out of the game.
The Shocker’s overzealous defense allowed the Lady Toppers to shoot 38 free throws, 23 of which they made.
Though WKU came away triumphant, they weren’t unscathed. James took a bad fall after being fouled. She hit her head hard enough to be heard in the nosebleeds, and the arena went silent until, after a few minutes, she stood up again.
According to Collins, Shelling suffered from leg cramps for the entire second half. To earn her 20 points, she had to fight against a very physical team on top of her own body.
Strong finish, rough start
The first half of Tuesday’s game wasn’t pretty for WKU. Though they fought hard on defense, their offense struggled consistently.
Poor shooting plagued the Lady Toppers. The second quarter saw them shoot three of 15 from the field.
Shooting wasn’t the only issue, either. At halftime, WKU had turned the ball over 11 times, which seemed to put them on course for another game of 20-plus turnovers.
Luckily, the Lady Toppers narrowly avoided that by only adding six turnovers the rest of the game.
Overall, it seemed that the team wasn’t in it. They played sluggishly and made costly mistakes throughout the first half. They, much like Troy Bolton, needed to get their heads in the game.
Looking forward
The Lady Toppers will tip off against the Indiana State Sycamores on Friday at 6:30 pm in Diddle Arena.
To cut the Sycamores down to size, the Lady Toppers will need to perform better. With sophomore guard Trinity Rowe absent, they’ll need to see more from the starters.
With Rowe gone, it could be time for a newcomer to step up. Redshirt Sophomore Tatum Boettjer could be an offensive asset for the team if her performance against Kentucky State is any indication of her ability.
Maybe the freshman guards, Lola Bond and Enni Ahervuo, could fill the hole Rowe left behind.
Without Rowe, the team will be in for a challenge against Indiana State.
